•Simon also on target
•Success, Akpom grab assists
In what was the last weekend of action before players made the trip to Qatar for the World Cup, Nigerian stars painted Europe’s top leagues with goals, but would definitely rue their absence from the Mundial, writes Anthony Nlebem
England
EPL
Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
In what seems to be the biggest shock of the day, Onyeka’s Brentford stunned Premier League title contenders Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in front of 52,786 spectators.
Onyeka was impressive and was on for 87 minutes before coming off for Josh Dasilva. A brace from Ivan Toney was all the Bees needed to wreck Pep Guardiola City’s side.
Dennis, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Duo Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis was conspicuously missing in action as Nottingham Forest fought hard to earn a crucial 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the City Ground on Saturday.
Dennis did not make the match-day squad, while compatriot Awoniyi was an unused substitute.
Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)
Kelechi Iheanacho was an unused substitute, while Wilfred Ndidi came on in the 55th minute for Youri Tielemans as Leicester City claimed a convincing 2-0 win at West Ham United.
Tielemans missed a first-half penalty, but goals from James Maddison and Harvey Barnes powered the Foxes to the three points at stake.
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
Nigeria’s midfield maestro was in action for 90 minutes but could not redeem Everton from a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The defeat pushed Everton 17th on the Premier League table, one spot away from the relegation zone.
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)
The English player of Nigerian descent was a nightmare for Everton as Bournemouth beat the Toffees 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Apart from not scoring, it was a complete performance from the forward, who caused Everton all sorts of troubles in front of the home crowd.
Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Nigeria international Aribo was an 82nd minute substitute for Romeo Lavia as Southampton were overpowered 3-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Championship
Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)
The Nigerian striker was in action for the entire match and was impressive as Middlesbrough came from a goal deficit to claim a 2-1 win over Norwich City. Akpom gave the assist for the second goal that sealed the victory for the visitors at stoppage time at Carrow Road.
France
Terem Moffi (Lorient)
Sensational striker Moffi continued his impressive goal-scoring form as he bagged the opener for Lorient in the fifth minute in the 1-1 draw versus Strasbourg on Sunday.
Moffi was in action for 90 minutes, but his goal was not enough as Lorient were forced to a 1-1 draw by the hosts, who equalised in the 86th minute through substitute Habib Diallo.
The 23-year-old has been Lorient’s standout star this season with 10 goals from 14 appearances.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Winger Simon was in action from start to finish and was highly impressive for Nantes in their 2-2 draw against visiting Ajaccio in their French Lique 1 fixture played at the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday.
The Yellow Canaries looked down and out, but Simon turned in the magic to help them seal a hard-fought draw, with the equaliser.
Italy
Serie A
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Forward Ademola Lookman scored for Atalanta, but his strike was not enough as they fell 3-2 to Inter Milan at the Gewiss Stadium.
Atalanta were looking to end their two-game winless run when they welcomed Inter and La Dea boss Gian Gasperini handed Lookman a starting shirt. His decision yielded dividends very early as the Nigerian scored from the penalty spot in the 24th minute.
However, Edin Dzeko equalised for the visitors side in the 36th minute, before adding the second in the 56th minute.
The 25-year-old has been in fine form and is involved in 10 league goals for Atalanta in 15 appearances.
The former Leicester City player now has seven goals and three in Serie A this season.
The loss means Atalanta have now lost three Serie A games in a row. They now sit sixth on the table.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
In-form Napoli striker Osimhen hit his ninth league goal of the season as Partenopei had to fight to get a deserved 3-2 victory over Isaac Success’ Udinese inside the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Saturday.
The 23-year-old headed home Napoli’s first goal in the 15th minute before Luciano Spalletti’s men raced to a 3-0 lead, but Udinese pulled two back.
Meanwhile, Osimhen’s header ensured that Harry Kane (9) is the only striker in Europe with more headed goals. The Super Eagles forward has scored eight headers this season.
The win puts Napoli eight points clear with 41 points from 15 matches at the top of the Italian Serie A table.
Success, Ehizibue (Udinese)
Kingsley Ehizibue was in action for 90 minutes as Udinese lost to league leaders Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Saturday.
The Nigerian put on an impressive performance as the visitors tried to fight back to steal a point away from home. The 27-year-old will hope to build on the display when action resumes after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Nigeria international Isaac Success came on as a substitute for Gerard Deulofeu and contributed to Udinese’s first goal when he gave a chest pass to Ilija Nestorovski in the 79th minute. The 26-year-old is yet to find a goal in his 15 appearances for his club.
Still looking for a comeback, Udinese grabbed the second goal in the 82nd minute and continued to press for the equaliser, but failed to complete a comeback as the game ended 3-2 in favour of the home side. Le Zebrette are eighth on the log with 24 points from 15 matches.
Spain
Samuel Chukwueze (Copa Del Rey)
Chukwueze inspired Villarreal to a convincing 9-0 win away to lower league side, Santa Amalia, in the Spanish Copa Del Rey fixture on Saturday.
Chukwueze hit the net twice and further contributed two assists as the Yellow Submarines advanced to the next stage of the competition.
The brace was Chukwueze’s first double of the season and his first since a 5-1 humbling of Levante in March last year.
Germany
Chidera Ejuke (Hertha Berlin)
Ejuke continued his goal drought with Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga this season, as the home side lost to Cologne 2-0 in front of over 60, 000 fans at the Olympiastadion stadium.
The 24-year-old came on for Wilfried Kanga in the 69th minute but could not help to salvage the situation as Die Alte Dame were condemned to a woeful home loss.
Portugal
Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista)
Defender Onyemaechi was in action for 90th minutes but failed to cage the rampant strike force of Porto as Boavista were humiliated 4-1 at home at the Estadio do Bessa XXI in Portugal’s topflight.
Onyemaechi recently earned his first Super Eagles invitation for the friendly against Portugal November 17.
Eredivisie
Calvin Bassey (Ajax)
Bassey was handed a starting role for Ajax in their 3-3 draw versus FC Emmen on Saturday but was replaced at half time after sustaining an injury.
The defender suffered the injury in the 41st minute of the encounter after landing awkwardly, but managed to hang on until the end of the first 45 minutes.
Belgium
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
Super Eagles midfielder Onyedika was in action for Club Brugge in the Belgium first division as his side were forced to a 2-2 home draw by a resilient Royal Antwerp
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder made his 11th league appearance since joining from Midtjylland in the summer.
The result takes Brugge to fourth on the table with 33 points from 17 matches and 10 points behind leaders Genk.
Turkey
Michael Ologo (İstanbulspor)
Ologo, who plays as a central defender for İstanbulspor in the Turkish professional league, was in action on Sunday as the Turkish club lost 1-0 at home.
The 19-year-old was booked in the 76th minute as his side suffered defeat at home to visiting Hatayspor at the Necmi Kadioglu Stadyumu on Sunday.
Ologo has made three appearances for Halkın Takımı this season.
