While the rains came down heavily in several states across the country on Sunday, there was also a rain of goals for Nigerian stars abroad, writes ABIODUN ADEWALE
SUNDAY
ENGLAND
DESTINY UDOGIE (TOTTENHAM)
Italy-born left back, Udogie continued to keep his shirt in the starting line up of Ange Postecoglou’s team as Tottenham played a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the North London Derby. The Nigeria-eligible defender was on for the entire duration of the game and was booked in the 15th minute. Captain Heu-min Son scored both goals for Spurs in either side of Christian Romero own-goal and a Bukayo Saka penalty.
JAMILU COLLINS (CARDIFF)
Defender Collins continued his fine form in the Championship and was involved in their 1-0 win over Sunderland on Sunday.
LESLEY UGOCHUKWU (CHELSEA)
Ugochukwu came on as a second half substitute for Chelsea but there was nothing much the midfielder could do as the Blues fell to a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
GERMANY
BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Red-hot striker Boniface scored a brace on Sunday as Xabi Alonso’s side recorded a 4-1 win over Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. The Nigerian striker made a smart turn inside the opposition’s box to calmly slot home his first of the game before adding the second from the penalty spot in the second half. He now has seven goals and two assists in five league games.
Nathan Tella also came on as a second-half substitute to make his second Bundesliga appearance.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
After opening his Serie A goal account for the season last week, Lookman followed it up on Sunday with his second goal of the season in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Cagliari. He opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, turning home Charles De Ketelaere’s ball across the face of the foal into the net and Mario Pasalic added the second later on.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)
Osimhen missed a penalty in Napoli’s goalless draw againsit Bologna on Sunday as his goal drought extends to three games in the Serie A and four games in all competitions. The striker who scored 26 goals last season to emerge top scorer has three goals in five games this season while Napoli find themselves in seventh place with eight points after failing to win their last two games.
SUCCESS, OKOYE (UDINESE)
Striker Isaac Success came off the bench again for Udinese on Sunday, but his 28 minutes involvement was not strong enough to help Udinese as they fell 2-0 at home against Fiorentina. His compatriot and goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye was again an unused substitute. They are currently in the relegation zone with three points from five matches.
SPAIN
UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)
Sadiq returned to the starting lineup for Real Sociedad but he was subsequently taken off in their 4-3 win over Getafe on Sunday. The striker has had few minutes of actions this season and has only one assist to his name.
BELGIUM
TOLU AROKODARE (GENK)
Arokodare came off the bench and scored his second goal of the season for Genk but it wasn’t enough as they settled for a 3-3 draw at home against St. Truiden on Sunday. Ater the visitors had raced to a three-goal lead, Genk responded in the second half with Arokodare scoring the second goal after Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss began the comeback. It was then completed by another African, Joseph Paintsil.
RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Midfielder Raphael Onyedika was also in action for Club Brugge in their quest to gain top spot in the Jupiler Pro League as they faced Anderlecht in a top of the table clash at Lotto Park. They however got a 1-1 draw but couldn’t displace the hosts from the top of the table. The midfielder has played in all their games this season.
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Gent striker Gift Orban had a day to forget for his club on Sunday as he was given a straight red card in their 1-0 loss at home to Eupen. The Nigerian was given the marching orders few minutes before halftime. His compatriot, Jordan Torunarigha was on the bench during the game.
FRANCE
AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)
Former junior international, Adams, again fired blanks as Montpellier were held to a goalless draw at home by Rennes. He was involved for 81 minutes and has now failed to score in four games after scoring three in his first two games.
NETHERLANDS
CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)
Akpom was still on the bench as Ajax’s ill-trailed 3-0 at home to Feyenoord before the game was suspended over fans troubles. Akpom has only started a game this season as their tough start to the season continues.
SCOTLAND
CYRIEL DESSERS (RANGERS)
In Scotland, Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal for Rangers in their 1-0 win over Motherwell. It’s his third goal for the Gers in all competitions and first in the league since joining them in the summer.
AUSTRIA
TOBIAS LAWAL (LASK)
One-time Super Eagles invitee, Lawal, kept his fifth clean sheet of the season in LASK’s goalless draw against Hartberg. His team have 15 points from eight matches and are third on the table. Lawal who was invited into the Nigerian national team in September 2020 and has featured for Austria at youth levels.
DENMARK
STEPHEN ODEY (RANDERS)
After contributing an assist last season, former MFM striker Odey stepped up his form for Randers in Denmark as he scored in their 1-1 draw against Aarhus. Odey gave Randers the lead in the 33rd minute but Patrick Mortensen restored parity for the visitors from the penalty spot in the second half.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
AWONIYI, AINA (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Nottingham Forest hosted Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday with Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina in action for the Tricky Trees. However, both players had no answers as City prevailed 2-0 despite being reduced to 10 players.
BASSEY, IWOBI (FULHAM)
Alex Iwobi played for 15 minutes in his second appearance for Fulham as they played out a goalless draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. His compatriot, Calvin Bassey was an unused substitute.
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
Midfielder Onyeka also played for 29 minutes in Brentford’s 3-1 loss to Everton at home. Having recovered from an injury that kept him out of their first two games, he has featured in their last four home games.
ELIJAH ADEBAYO (LUTON)
Striker Adebayo made a cameo appearance, playing for only six minutes in their 1-1 draw at home against Wolves. He has featured in five EPL games this season, starting three of them.
LUCA KOLEOSHO (BURNLEY)
Italy-born Koleosho was on for 73 minutes for Burnley as Vincent Kompany’s men continued to struggle in the EPL. They were beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester United thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ goal. The Italy junior international has played in five EPL games with an assist to his name.
NDIDI, IHEANACHO (LEICESTER CITY)
In the Championship, Wilfred Ndidi won a penalty which was converted by Jamie Vardy as Leicester City recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Bristol City. Kelechi Iheanacho who scored in midweek was also in action as the Foxes moved to the top of the league table.
FRANCE
MOSES SIMON (NANTES)
For the second week running, Simon continued to prove important for Nantes, scoring again for the Canaries as they secured a 5-3 home victory over FC Lorient. Simon scored a stoppage-time penalty and provided two assists.
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
After making his first Milan start during their UEFA Champions League opener against Newcastle, Chukwueze could not find his way back into the starting line up in the Serie A and was an unused substitute, in their 1-0 loss to Hellas Verona.
TURKEY
AHMED MUSA (SIVASSPOR)
Super Eagles captain Musa came on in the 81st minute as his side, Sivasspor, recorded a 1-1 draw away at Caykur Rizespor. It’s his second league appearance of the season having not featured in their last four games.
EMMANUEL DENNIS (ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR)
New Istanbul Basaksehir man, Dennis, is still in search of a breakthrough in terms of goals for his club. Basaksehir lost 2-1 at home to Galatasaray in his second game for the club as he was booked in the 12th minute and substituted at halftime.
IBRAHIM OLAWOYIN (CAYKUR RIZESPOR)
Former Super Eagles B midfielder, Ibrahim Olawoyin, provided the key assist for Rizespor’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Ahmed Musa’s Sivasspor at the Caykur Didi Stadyumu. He has featured in all their games this season.
