- Moffi, Arokodare open 2023/24 league goal accounts
- Tijani, Akinyemi, Durosinmi on fire in Czech Republic
- Akpom makes Ajax Eredivisie bow
Ahead of the international break, ABIODUN ADEWALE tracks Nigerian players as they continued their decent run for their clubs in Europe with few of them heading home after being called up into the Super Eagles
SUNDAY
FRANCE
TEREM MOFFI (NICE)
Moffi is finally off the mark for Nice this season, opening his goal account in their 2-0 win over Strasbourg at the Allianz Riviera. Moffi added the second in the 75th minute after Youcef Atal had opened the scoring in the first half. Moffi now has one goal and one assist going into the international break.
AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)
New Montpellier sensation, Adams has slowed down for the second week running, failing to score for the second game in a row as they also suffered a second consecutive defeat of the season against Lille. The former junior international still has three goals to his name this season going into the international break.
EMMANUEL EMEGHA (STRASBOURG)
Emegha continued to make his mark in the Ligue 1 for Strasbourg’s but they suffered a 2-0 loss against Nice. The Strasbourg No. 10 has two goals so far this season. Born in the Netherlands to a Togolese father and Nigerian mother, the 20-year-old has played for the Dutch youth sides.
NETHERLANDS
CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)
Since joining the Dutch giants in what is the most significant move of his career, Akpom eventually made his Ajax debut on Sunday, featuring for 16 minutes in their goalless draw against Fortuna Sittard away from home. The England-born player of Nigerian descent missed the opening two games of the season due to injury and will hope to return to full action after the international break. Ajax have just one win from three games this season.
CZECH REPUBLIC
RAFIU DUROSINMI (VIKTORIA PLZEN)
Former Box-to-Box FC man, Durosinmi continued his fine form for Viktoria Plzen in Czech Republic’s Fortuna Liga with a goal in their 2-0 win over Bohemians. The striker scored in the ninth minute while Plzen’s second goal was scored by Brazilian left back, Cadu. It was Durosinmi’s first goal of the season while he has three assists already.
MUHAMMAD, OGBU, OGUNGBAYI (SLAVIA PRAGUE)
Muhammad Tijani scored his second league goal of the season as Slavia Prague thrashed Karvina 5-1 at home on Sunday. The former 36 Lion man pressed the opposition’s goalkeeper to restore parity for the hosts after his compatriot, Adeleke Akinyemi had put Karviva into an early lead.
Igoh Ogbu and Boluwatife Ogungbayi came off the bench in the second half.
AKINYEMI, EZEH (KARVINA)
Another Nigerian in the Czech Republic, Adeleke Akinyemi was on target for Karvina in their 5-1 defeat to Slavia Prague. The Lagos born 25-year-old finished off a team steal with a sublime finish to put them in front as early as the sixth minute for his second goal of the season. But that was the only goal Karvina scored in the game as their hosts responded with five.
His compatriot, Lucky Ezeh, started the game from the bench.
BELGIUM
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
After ending their weekend with a 2-1 win over Club Brugge at home at the Ghelamco Arena, Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha have more reason to celebrate as both players were handed their respective first call ups to the Super Eagles for next Sunday’s dead rubber AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo. While Orban came on as a second half substitute, Torunarigha started the game and was solid at the back to protect their lead. Both Gent’s goals were scored by South Korea’s Hong Hyun-Seok. Gent are currently top of the Belgium Jupiler league table.
RAPHEAL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Onyedika played all minutes as Club Brugge lost 2-1 against Orban and Torunarigha’s Gent. It was the fifth league appearance for the Nigerian midfielder who was also called up for the AFCON qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe next Sunday in Uyo.
AL-HASSAN YUSUF (ANTWERP)
Yusuf is another Nigerian who was in action on Sunday in Belgium, as champions Antwerp drew 2-2 away against Royale Union SG. The midfielder was a second half substitute for Ritchie De Laet. Antwerp were close to stealing all the points but a late equaliser Gustaf Nilsson ensured a share of spoils for Union.
SOR, AROKODARE (GENK)
Tolu Arokodare came off the bench and scored a late equaliser which rescued a 1-1 draw for 10-man Genk in their Jupiler Pro League game against Anderlecht. The visitors were almost returning home with all the points but the Nigerian’s first league goal of the season salvaged the game. His compatriot, Yira Sor also started from the bench.
DENMARK
TOCHI CHUKWUANI (LYNGBY)
20-year-old Tochi Chukwuani put up another impressive display in the midfield for Lyngby but it wasn’t enough as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Nordsjaelland. Andri Gudjohnsen had put Lyngby up in the first half but a late equaliser by Kian Hansen for the visitors left Chukwuani’s team eighth on the table as they have only won two of their last five games. Chukwuani who has played for the Dutch youth side has scored a goal already this season.
Former MFM striker, Stephen Odey was in action for Randers in their 3-1 defeat against Brondby on Sunday. Odey was substituted in the 60th minute for Senegalese Lasso Coulibaly after the hosts had raced to a three-goal lead in the first half. Odey is in his third season with Randers and has scored one goal this season.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
AWONIYI, AINA (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Taiwo Awoniyi couldn’t set a new African record for scoring in most consecutive games in the EPL but assisted Anthony Elanga’s winning goal as Nottingham Forest defeated Chelsea 1-0, with Ola Aina performing well for Steve Cooper’s side as well. Both players will be on the plane for Super Eagles duty next Sunday.
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
Frank Onyeka came on for Brentford in the 71st minute, contributing to their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring a late equalizer.
ARIBO, ONUACHU (SOUTHAMPTON)
In the English Championship, Joe Aribo made a substitute appearance for Southampton, who suffered a 5-0 defeat against Sunderland. The midfielder who has also been invited for next Sunday’s international duty played only 19 minutes. Paul Onuachu was not listed for the game.
JAMILU COLLINS (CARDIFF CITY)
Collins played the full match for Cardiff City to make his fourth league appearance of the season but they narrowly lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town. The left back is also back in the Super Eagles for the Sao Tome game after being out of action for about a year due to injury.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)
At the Coventry Building Society Arena, Dele-Bashiru provided an assist for Watford in an exciting 3-3 draw against Coventry. The former U-20 man has been in fine form this season, with a goal and an assist to his name.
IHEANACHO, NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho featured for Leicester City, but the Foxes lost for the first time this season, falling 1-0 to Hull City. Both of them were taken off in the second half for Jammie Vardy and Cesare Casadei.
FRED ONYEDIMMA (ROTHERHAM UNITED)
Onyedimma continued life in the Championship on Saturday, as he assisted Rotherham United’s first goal in their thrilling 2-1 victory over Norwich City for their first win of the season.
GERMANY
Boniface, Tella (Bayern Leverkusen)
Victor Boniface continued to make headlines in the Bundesliga, scoring two goals and assisting another in Bayer Leverkusen’s commanding 5-1 victory over Darmstadt. The 22-year-old has now been handed his first call up into the Super Eagles as well.
Nathan Tella also came on late in the second half to make his Bundesliga debut for Xabi Alonso’s side.
ITALY
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)
It was rather an unusual weekend for last season’s Serie A top scorer, Osimhen, who was kept at bay by Lazio in Napoli’s 2-1 defeat at the Diego Maradona Stadium. Osimhen will hope to get back into this scoring form after returning from international duty with the Super Eagles.
SPAIN
UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)
Sadiq continued to get back into the mix for Sociedad this season, again, coming on as a substitute for the fourth consecutive game in their exciting 5-3 triumph over Granada in LaLiga. Sociedad are eighth on the table.
SAMUEL OMORODION (ALAVES)
New Samu in the LaLiga, Omorodion, played his second game for Alaves as a substitute again but he is yet to make his mark in terms of goals for his new club. Omorodion joined them on loan from Atletico Madrid after the Rojiblancos snapped him up from Granada. He has a goal in the LaLiga this season which he scored for Granada against Atletico Madrid.
RUSSIA
FRANCISCA ORDEGA (CSKA MOSCOW WOMEN)
Super Falcons winger Francesca Ordega scored CSKA Moskva’s first and fourth goals in their emphatic 5-0 win against Chertanovo, putting them back at the top of the Superliga Women’s
table.
New Samu in the LaLiga, Omorodion, played his second game for Alaves as a substitute again but he is yet to make his mark in terms of goals for his new club. Omorodion joined them on loan from Atletico Madrid after the Rojiblancos snapped him up from Granada. He has a goal in the LaLiga this season which he scored for Granada against Atletico Madrid.
RUSSIA
FRANCISCA ORDEGA (CSKA MOSCOW WOMEN)
Super Falcons winger Francesca Ordega scored CSKA Moskva’s first and fourth goals in their emphatic 5-0 win against Chertanovo, putting them back at the top of the Superliga Women’s
table.
