Nigerian players faced stern tests in Europe as Joe Aribo’s Saints fell to a resurging devils while Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Ahmed Musa all failed to find the back of the net in over 100 days.
England
Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Super Eagles star Joe Aribo came close to scoring his second goal of the season, but he was denied by David De Gea as Southampton suffered a narrow 1-0 loss in their Premier League clash against Manchester United at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.
The Nigerian international’s superb header was pushed away by De Gea in the 66th minute and it turned out to be Southampton’s last real chance of the game as United held on for a vital win.
Aribo completed 85% of his passes, including one key pass. He also won six duels out of 12, although his performance was not enough to give Southampton the win over Ten Hag’s men.
Bruno Fernandes scored the winning goal for the visitors five minutes before the hour mark.
Alex Iwobi (Everton), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Everton failed to register their first Premier League win of the season thanks to a late Vitaly Janelt equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Brentford Community Stadium, which saw the Toffees’ winless streak away to Brentford, which dates back to 1952, further extended.
Super Eagles midfielders Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka were offered contrasting roles in the game as Iwobi featured for Frank Lampard’s men while Onyeka, watched on from the sidelines.
Earlier in the week, Iwobi was recognized for his brilliance as he made the Carabao Cup team of the round of 32 but he was caught ball-watching and didn’t react to defend Janelt in the build-up to the equalizer.
The midfielder extended his goal drought in the EPL to 163 days.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Super Eagles stars Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi came off the bench for Leicester City, but the Foxes suffered a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in their Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
Iheanacho and Ndidi did not start the game as Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers went with a 4-5-1 formation, with Jamie Vardy leading the line.
However, the Nigerians were unable to help the away side find the equaliser despite playing against ten men as Chelsea held on for their second win of the season.
Iheanacho had a chance to find the back of the net in the 73rd minute but his first time shot went just inches wide of the post after beating Edouard Mendy making it 118 days since he last scored a goal for Leicester.
English Championship
Semi Ajayi (West Brom)
Semi Ajayi featured in West Bromwich Albion’s 2-2 draw against Huddersfield from start to finish earning himself a yellow card in the 95th minute and could not cope with English-Nigerian Faustino Anjourin who struck twice in the game.
Spain
Segunda
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes)
Kenneth Omeruo started in Leganes’ 1-0 loss to Lugo in the Spanish second division making it four straight losses for Leganes and Omeruo’s third. They sit 19th on the table and their chances of a return to the top-flight look slim.
Italy
Cyriel Dessers, David Okereke (Cremonese)
Three goals were scored as Cremonese hosted Torino at the Giovanni Zini Stadium and although Nigerian forwards Cyriel Dessers and David Okereke did not trouble the goal scorers, Dessers was able to make a contribution.
Dessers assisted Leonardo Sernicola in the 80th minute to pull one back for Cremonese after they had conceded two goals through Nikola Vlasic in the 17th minute and Nemanja Radonjic in the 65th minute.
Belgium
Paul Onuachu (Genk)
Paul Onuachu’s services were not missed as Genk ran out 4-0 winners away to RFC Seraing at the Stade du Pairay ground.
The star man is reportedly injured as he continues to be linked with a move away from the Belgian side as the transfer window nears its end.
Germany
Chidera Ejuke (Hertha Berlin), Afeez Aremu (St Pauli)
Chidera Ejuke was neither a starter or on the bench for Hertha Berlin’s home game against Borussia Dortmund. Hertha fought bravely against Dortmund but ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a 32nd minute goal from Anthony Modeste.
Afeez Aremu was in St Pauli’s match-day squad but remained an unused substitution in Sunday Oliseh’s side and was forced to watch an entertaining 2-2 thriller as the second division side came back twice to tie the game.
Turkey
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagümrük) in the 67th minute
Ahmed Musa came on for Karagümrük in the 67th minute with his team up 3-1 and was unable to add to the scoring as the game ended 4-1.
The striker however earned a yellow card after a tackle on the opposition player in the 92nd minute of the game.
Musa has now failed to find the back of the net for Karagümrük for 182 days.
