It was an eventful weekend for Nigerian footballers abroad, with several Super Eagles stars making significant contributions for their respective clubs. From England to Germany, Spain, and beyond, here’s a roundup of how they fared.
Premier League: Aribo and Onuachu Inspire Southampton to Victory
At St. Mary’s, Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu were the heroes as Southampton ended their six-game losing streak with a crucial 2-1 win over Ipswich Town. Aribo opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but Ipswich responded through Liam Delap in the 31st minute. However, with just three minutes left, Onuachu struck the winner, giving his relegation-threatened side a much-needed three points.
Aribo’s goal was his third in 23 league appearances this season, while Onuachu has now scored twice in 14 games.
Elsewhere, Fulham secured a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. Alex Iwobi played 79 minutes, while Calvin Bassey featured for the entire game as the Cottagers claimed all three points.
Meanwhile, Ola Aina put in a stellar performance as Nottingham Forest demolished Brighton & Hove Albion 7-0 at the City Ground. Aina played the full 90 minutes, bringing his season tally to two goals in 24 appearances. His international teammate, Taiwo Awoniyi, made a late appearance, replacing hat-trick hero Chris Wood with eight minutes to go.
Bundesliga: Boniface and Orban on Target in Germany
In Germany, Victor Boniface continued his fine form for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring in their 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Sunday. Meanwhile, his compatriot Gift Orban netted Hoffenheim’s only goal, marking his second consecutive Bundesliga match on the scoresheet. Nathan Tella also featured for Leverkusen but was substituted in the 42nd minute.
Elsewhere, Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka was in action for Augsburg in their 1-1 draw against St. Pauli. Making his 17th appearance of the season, Onyeka provided a solid display before being substituted in the 70th minute.
La Liga: Akor Adams Makes Sevilla Debut
Akor Adams made his much-anticipated debut for Sevilla in their goalless draw against Getafe. The 24-year-old forward, who recently joined from Montpellier, came off the bench in the 81st minute to get his first taste of La Liga action.
Another Nigerian, Chidera Ejuke, also featured for Sevilla, replacing Ruben Vargas in the 71st minute, while Kelechi Iheanacho remained an unused substitute.
Scotland: Dessers Continues Fine Form for Rangers
In the Scottish Premiership, Cyriel Dessers played the full 90 minutes as Rangers cruised to a dominant 4-0 victory over Ross County. The striker has now racked up 18 goals and five assists across all competitions this season.
Serie A: Chukwueze Gets Late Run in Milan Derby
Over in Italy, Samuel Chukwueze made a brief appearance in the Milan derby, coming on in the 86th minute as AC Milan held Inter to a 1-1 draw. The Nigerian forward will be hoping for more minutes in the coming fixtures.
Turkey: Ibrahim Olawoyin and David Akintola provided assists for Rizespor in their 3-2 loss to Fenerbahçe on Sunday. Olawoyin was sent off in first-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.
Saudi Arabia: Troost-Ekong on Target in Al Kholood’s Defeat
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong found the back of the net for Al Kholood, but his goal wasn’t enough as they fell 4-3 to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Professional League. The defender now has two goals in 18 league appearances this season.