A disappointing night for Super Eagles stars

It was not the best of nights for Nigerian stars that were in action across major leagues in Europe as most were on the losing side

Starting in England, Alex Iwobi featured for Everton, but the Toffees Carabao Cup journey came to an end following a home loss to Manchester United.

Iwobi played the entire duration, but he delivered an average performance, although that was also the same story for Everton.

Both teams failed to find the breakthrough in the opening half, and the game was heading into extra-time until Edison Cavani fired in a curler two minutes from time to put United ahead.

Everton poured forward in numbers to find an equaliser, but Anthony Martial’s strike in the sixth minute of added time sealed a comfortable win for the Red Devils.

Meanwhile, in France, Moses Simon was a second-half substitute as Nantes lost 3-0 at Lyon. Simon, who has two goals in 14 league appearances for Les Canaries this season, came on Kader Bamba in the 58th minute.

However, his introduction could not spark a comeback after Lyon had taken a three-goal lead in the first half courtesy of strikes from Karl Toko Ekambi, Tino Kadewere and Lucas Paqueta. 

In another Ligue 1 game, Samuel Kalu was missing in Bordeaux’s shocking loss to Reims at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux

Kalu has scored two times in seven league appearances for Les Girondins this season, but he was not in the matchday squad on Wednesday night.  His Super Eagles teammate, Josh Maja did feature, though, coming on for Mehdi Zerkane just after half-time.

Still, the former Sunderland could not prevent the home side from defeat. Yunis Abdelhamid put Reims ahead in the 15th minute before Boulaye Dia doubled the advantage two minutes later.

Ui-Jo Hwang pulled one back in the 73rd minute, but Marshall Munetsi strike two minutes from time killed all hopes of a comeback.