Nigerian players abroad: Getting into the groove!

SUNDAY

ENGLAND

ALEX IWOBI (EVERTON)

Alex Iwobi was forced off by an injury on Sunday as Everton’s miserable start to the season continue with a 4-0 defeat in the hands of Aston Villa. The Toffees were already two goals down when Iwobi picked up the knock and was replaced by Neal Maupay in the 51st minute. Sean Dyche’s men will have to wait for further tests to confirm the extent of Iwobi’s injury. Although impressive in the first game of the season, the Nigerian and Everton are winless in two games.

CHUKWUEMEKA, MADUEKE (CHELSEA)

Despite the big money arrivals of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Carney Chukwuemeka kept his place in Chelsea’s midfield in their match-day two game against West Ham and the midfielder rewarded Maurico Pochettino with a goal in the 29th minute. Madueke’s first Chelsea goal cancelled out Naif Aguerd’s opener for the Hammers as the London Derby ended 2-1 in favour of the Hammers.

Noni Madueke was introduced in the second half and the young player also went close to scoring for the Blues when they trailed 2-1.

AIDOMO EMAKHU (MILLWALL)

19-year-old midfielder Aidomo Emakhu scored a consolation goal for Millwall in their 3-1 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road on Sunday. Born in Ireland, Emakhu is of Nigerian descent and has played for the Republic of Ireland at U-19 level. He has a goal and an assist already this season in the Championship. Another player of Nigerian descent, Andrew Omobamidele, who plays for Norwich and for the Irish national team was cautioned late on in the game.

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (NANTES)

Like he was last week, Moses Simon, was substituted in the 72nd minute for Abdoul Kader Bamba in Nantes’s 2-0 away loss against 10-man Lille at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. It was the second defeat of the season for Nantes following their 2-1 home defeat against Toulouse last week. Like his club, Simon is yet to get off the mark with goals and assists this season.

BELGIUM

ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)

Gift Orban opened his Belgium Pro League on Sunday in Genk’s 2-2 draw against St.Truiden just as his compatriot proved to be important for De Buffalos with another goal. Orban halved the deficit for Genk with his first league goal of the season in the 34th minute while Torunarigha levelled matters in the 58th minute. Aboubakary Koita and Mathias Delorge Knieper scored for St. Turiden.

AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)

Both Tolu Arokodare and Yira Sor were on parade for Genk in their league game against Sporting Charleroi but they couldn’t make any impact as the game ended 0-0. Sor was taken off at halftime for Joseph Paintsil while Arokodare was replaced by Luca Oyen in the 58th minute.

CZECH REPUBLIC

QUADRI ADEDIRAN (CESKE BUDEJOVICE)

In the match-day five of the Fortuna Liga, Quadri Adediran scored his first goal of the season for Ceske Budejovice in their 3-0 win over Bohemians. The 22-year-old Adediran who was born in Lagos opened the scoring for Ceske Budejovice before halftime while Lukas Havel and Pavel Osmancik added the two other goals.

DEMARK

TOCHI CHUKWUANI (LYNGBY)

20-year-old Tochi Chukwuani had a goal disallowed by the VAR as his club Lyngby recorded a 1-0 win over Randers in their Danish Superliga game. Vhukwuani who has played for the Dutch youth side had his goal in the 65th minute ruled out for offside. The midfielder has scored a goal already this season.

ITALY

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)

Ademola Lookman enjoyed a perfect start to the season with Atalanta on Sunday as they secured a 2-0 win over Sassuolo away from home. The Nigerian played all minutes of the game as Charles De Ketelaere and Nadir Zortea scored two late goals to win it for Atalanta.

SATURDAY

ENGLAND

CALVIN BASSEY (FULHAM)

Calvin Bassey finally made his Premier League debut for Fulham, but the Cottagers suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at home against Frank Onyeka’s Brentford. Bassey had a tough debut as he came on as a makeshift substitute for Andreas Pereira in the 67th minute following the sending off of centre back Tim Ream. He might be in for his first start next week against Arsenal.

FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)

Frank Onyeka returned from an injury but was an unused substitute for Brentford in their 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

IHEANACHO, NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)

Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi continued life in the Championship with Leicester City. While they both impressed, the Foxes last grasp 2-1 win over Cardiff City was down to newly acquired teenager Cesare Casadei who scored a late winner to seal their third win of the season in as many games for them.

UGBO, COLLINS (CARDIFF CITY)

Back from a long injury lay off before the start of the season, Jamilu Collins featured for Cardiff in the 2-1 loss to Leicester at the King Power Stadium. He was cautioned in the 87th minute while another Nigerian player in the lineup for Cardiff, Ike Ugbo was taken off at the start of the second half for Yakou Meite.

SCOTLAND

CYRIEL DESSERS (RANGERS)

In Scotland, Cyriel Dessers played a crucial role in Rangers’ comeback victory, scoring from the penalty spot and assisting the winner in a 2-1 win in the Scottish League Cup.

ITALY

VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen had a lift off in the new Serie A season on Saturday. Osimhen began the campaign with two goals in Napoli’s 3-1 away win over newly-promoted Frosinone. Fresh from winning the Serie A golden boot with 26 goals last season, the Nigerian made a huge statement with the goals and it’s a matter of time if he will lead Napoli to another league title and also retain his gong.

TYRONNE EBUEHI (EMPOLI)

Tyronne Ebuehi played all minutes for Empoli in their season opener against Verona which ended in a 1-0 loss at home for them.

MICAHEAL FOLORUNSO (VERONA)

Michael Folorunsho also made his Serie A debut in the colours of Verona as the visitors ran out 1-0 winners over Ebuhehi’s Empoli. Folorunso played for 69 minutes until he was replaced by Riccardo Saponara.

FRANCE

AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)

Akor Adams continued to be the toast of Montpellier fans with his third goal of the season after two games on Saturday. Adams scored in the 89th minute as Montpellier sealed a massive 4-1 away victory over former champions Lyon.

GERMANY

VICTOR BONIFACE (BAYERN LEVERKUSEN)

After impressing during pre-season, new Bayern Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface finally made his Bundesliga bow against RB Leipzig. He made his debut count by assisting Jeremie Frimpong for Leverkusen’s opening goal in their hard-fought 3-2 home win. Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz were the other goal scorers for Leverkusen. Boniface was cautioned in the second half and was replaced by Adam Hlozek in the 89th minute.

SPAIN

UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)

In the Spanish La Liga, Umar Sadiq continued his comeback to full fitness as he saw 26 minutes of action in Real Sociedad 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo.

PORTUGAL

KELECHI NWAKALI (CHAVES)

Kelechi Nwakali provided an assist for Hector Hernandez Marrero who scored GD Chaves’s first goal from his corner kick, but they suffered a disappointing 4-2 home loss to Sporting Braga. Hector got a brace but Chaves were undone by two more goals from Simon Banza and Pizi as Braga won 4-2.

AWAZIEM, ONYEMAECHI (BOAVISTA)

Chidozie Awaziem at centre back and Bruno Onyeamaechi on the left side of the backline put up solid defensive performances, to help Boavista record an impressive 4-1 away victory over Portimonense at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão. Onyeamaechi also assisted their second goal in the first half for Robert Bozenik.