This weekend saw Nigerian footballers take center stage in various leagues abroad, with standout performances and moments of heartbreak alike.
In the Premier League, Joe Aribo found the back of the net for Southampton in their 3-2 home loss to Leicester City at St. Mary’s Stadium. Despite giving his team a 2-0 lead, Southampton ultimately surrendered the advantage, with Aribo’s first goal of the season not enough to avoid defeat. Aribo’s compatriot Paul Onuachu made a second-half appearance for Southampton, while Wilfred Ndidi played the entire match for Leicester.
Goalgetter Media CEO and Publisher, Damilola Amuda (Goalgetter) at the St Mary’s Stadium for the Premier League game between Southampton and Leicester City.
Meanwhile, at Craven Cottage, Fulham’s Nigerian duo, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, endured a tough afternoon as their team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Iwobi, who has been in excellent form this season, couldn’t prevent Fulham’s third loss of the campaign. Bassey, unfortunately, had a critical moment when his deflection led to Villa’s equalizer in the 24th minute.
Over in Italy, Samuel Chukwueze delivered a match-winning performance for AC Milan in their 1-0 victory over Udinese. The Super Eagles star scored the only goal of the game, securing his first goal in eight Serie A appearances this season. Chukwueze’s international teammate and fellow Nigerian, Maduka Okoye, was in goal for Udinese but couldn’t stop his side from falling to Milan’s pressure.
Ademola Lookman also had a productive outing in Serie A, returning to Atalanta’s starting lineup in a 2-0 win over Venezia. Although Lookman was substituted at half-time, his performance contributed to Atalanta’s continued winning streak. Lookman now has two goals and two assists in five appearances this season.
In Turkey, Victor Osimhen made a stunning impact off the bench for Galatasaray, scoring a breathtaking overhead kick in their 3-0 win over Antalyaspor. Osimhen, who recently returned from injury, replaced Mauro Icardi in the 78th minute and sealed the win with his third goal of the season.
Also in Turkey, David Okereke was on target for Gaziantep in their 2-2 draw away to Kayserispor. Okereke’s first goal for the club came in the 22nd minute, putting his team ahead early in the game.
Nigerian striker Kayode Olarenwaju grabbed the spotlight with a hat-trick for Sanliurfaspor in their 4-1 win over Adanaspor in the Turkish second division, bringing his tally to four goals in six appearances this season.
In Germany, Victor Boniface played a crucial role in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite missing an early penalty, Boniface redeemed himself by scoring the winning goal in the 71st minute, marking his fifth league goal of the season.
In Ligue 1, Moses Simon provided an assist as Nantes played out a 1-1 draw with Nice. The winger has now recorded two goals and three assists in eight appearances this season.
In Belgium, Tolu Arokodare was instrumental in KRC Genk’s 3-2 win over St. Truiden, contributing one goal and an assist. Raphael Onyedika also grabbed an assist in Club Brugge’s 2-1 win over Westerlo, bringing his tally to two assists across all competitions this season.
In women’s football, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie impressed for Paris FC, making multiple saves to secure a goalless draw against Lyon in the Women’s Ligue 1.
In Spain, Rasheedat Ajibade helped Atletico de Madrid Femenino earn a narrow 1-0 win over Real Sociedad, continuing her strong form with three goals and two assists in six games this season.
In Saudi Arabia, Ashleigh Plumptre delivered a dominant performance for Al Ittihad, scoring a goal and providing three assists in a 13-1 thrashing of Jeddah. The defender’s return from a lengthy injury layoff has been impressive, contributing significantly to her team’s success.
This weekend of action saw Nigerian players making waves across Europe, from vital goals to solid defensive displays, showcasing their influence on the global football stage.