It was another eventful weekend for Nigerian footballers across Europe, with several Super Eagles players making their mark in top leagues, delivering standout performances, and reaching personal milestones.
In Spain, Ademola Lookman etched his name into history during a thrilling Madrid derby clash at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Nigerian forward opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, becoming the first Nigerian ever to score in a Madrid derby. Despite his effort, his side fell short as 10-man Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid. Lookman’s goal takes his tally to two in 12 league appearances in what has been a promising debut season in La Liga.
Elsewhere in Spain, Akor Adams featured for Sevilla in their disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Valencia. Adams was introduced in the 37th minute, while fellow Nigerian Chidera Ebuehi remained on the bench for the duration of the match.
In the English Premier League, Taiwo Awoniyi made a strong impact off the bench as Nottingham Forest cruised to a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Coming on in the 71st minute, Awoniyi sealed the win with a goal in the 87th minute—his second league goal in 12 appearances this season. His compatriot, Ola Aina, also played a key role, featuring for the full 90 minutes in what was his 14th appearance for the club.
Fulham’s Nigerian trio—Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze—were all involved in their 3-1 win over Burnley. Iwobi and Bassey both delivered full-match performances, while Chukwueze added energy off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute.
In France, Moses Simon continued his consistent run with Paris FC, playing a vital role in their exciting 3-2 win over Le Havre. The winger, who has now made 23 appearances this season, was substituted late in the 84th minute after an impressive display. He currently boasts three goals and two assists in the ongoing campaign.
Over in Italy, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru impressed with a solid all-round performance as Lazio defeated Bologna 2-0. The midfielder played the entire match, marking his 15th league appearance of the season, though he is still searching for his first goal contribution.
Meanwhile, in another Serie A fixture, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye delivered a commanding performance, keeping a clean sheet in Udinese’s 2-0 away win against Genoa. Kingsley Ehizibue also featured prominently, playing 87 minutes in the victory.
