- Oshoala leads Nigerian footballers with back-to-back hat-tricks in Spain
It was a weekend of blistering performances by Nigeria’s top footballers in Europe, with many of them scoring for their clubs, but Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala stole the show with a second hat-trick in four days on Sunday. Here, ANTHONY NLEBEM brings you the players’ ratings over the weekend
SPAIN
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femení)
Super Falcons prolific striker Oshoala bagged her second hat-trick in four days as Barcelona Femení thrashed Granadilla Tenerife Sur Women 6-0 in their Primera Division match played on Sunday.
The 28-year-old striker, who scored three goals in Barca’s 7-0 bashing of Levante Las Planas in a Primera Division midweek fixture on January 25, continued from where she stopped and was super impressive for the Catalan side.
Oshoala scored in the 8th, 12th and 27th minutes, while Claudia Pina opened the scoring in five minutes of play, Aitana Bonmati Conca registered the fifth goal in the 45th minute as Lucy Bronze made it six in stoppage time in what was a one-sided encounter.
Oshoala is Barca Femení’s top goalscorer with 13 goals in 15 appearances so far in the Primera Division Women 2022/23 season and has raked in a total of 17 goals from 20 matches across all competitions this season.
The win ensured Barca maintained their winning streak and sit top of the table.
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid)
Super Falcons striker Ajibade was a second-half substitute as Atletico Madrid Femenino played a 1-1 draw against Sevilla Femenino in the Women’s Primera Division fixture on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Nigerian striker came in for Marta Cardona De Miguel in the 83rd minute but could not make an impact as the home side were forced to a stalemate.
The former FC Robo forward has scored four goals in 17 league appearances for the Colchoneros in the 2022/23 Spanish Women’s Primera Division league.
Atletico Women continue to chase Champions League football for next season and are fourth on the table with 30 points from 17 games.
ENGLAND
Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)
Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to score Leicester’s winner in the FA Cup 4th round match against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium on Saturday.
The Nigerian striker was introduced in the 63rd minute for Zambia forward, Parson Daka, and broke the deadlock after five minutes of play.
It was his second goal in as many games in this season’s FA Cup, but also his 17th in 23 appearances in the competition.
However, the 26-year-old has struggled to make an impression in the Premier League this season, with one goal in 14 appearances.
Leicester progressed into the FA Cup quarter-final.
Iheanacho’s countryman Wilfred Ndidi was out injured.
Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Aribo started for Southampton, who survived a fightback to beat Championship strugglers Blackpool 2-1 to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
Aribo, who last featured for the Saints in their last FA Cup game away at Crystal Palace on January 7, played the entire duration of the encounter as No.8.
Saints, who are through to the fifth round for the third time in four seasons, will discover their opponents when the draw is made on Monday (today).
Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)
In the English Championship, Akpom, scored his 14th Championship goal (15th goal of the season) to help Middlesbrough return to winning ways and leapfrog Watford after they breezed past their fellow promotion-chasers Watford 2-0 to third in the Championship table by winning the meeting of two playoff hopefuls.
That made it nine wins from 13 league games for Carrick, who took the manager’s job in October after Boro had slipped into the relegation places.
Leslie Adekoya (Accrington Stanley)
In the FA Cup, British player of Nigerian descent, Leslie Adekoya, scored his first senior goal for his English third-tier side Accrington Stanley with a clever dink over Illan Meslier, 38 seconds after coming off the bench in his side’s 3-1 loss to Leeds United. At 18 years and 285 days, Adekoya became the youngest player to score in this season’s FA Cup. Goals from Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Junior Firpo secured a fifth-round place for Leeds.
The game was Adekoya’s eighth appearance off the bench for the club this season.
ITALY
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Nigeria international Ademola Lookman continued his goals form as he scored the second goal in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Sampdoria in Saturday’s late night fixture at the Gewiss Stadium.
The 25-year-old Nigerian scored the second goal for his side in the 57th minute to take his Serie A goals to 12 in 19 league appearances this season, making him the second most prolific scorer in the league behind Nigeria teammate and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has notched 13 goals.
The Super Eagles winger has been a standout player for Atalanta in Serie A this season and bagged a brace in their 3-3 draw against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium.
The 25-year-old’s brilliant form has been essential in helping Gian Piero Gasperini’s side push for a spot in Europe next season and are fourth on the Serie A table with 38 points from 20 matches
Okereke, Dessers (Cremonese)
Nigerian striker David Okereke scored in the 11th minute against Serie A giants Inter Milan in Saturday’s Serie A match at Stadio Giovanni Zini.
The goal brings his tally to five this season, but his effort was not enough as the Tigers lost 2-1 at home.
Soualiho Meite slipped the ball to Okereke on the edge of the box, and the forward powered the ball into the top right corner, leaving Andre Onana helpless between the sticks.
The 25-year-old is Cremonese’s top scorer this season, but they continue to languish at the bottom of the table, without a win in their last 19 league games.
Also, Cyriel Dessers returned from injury and started from the bench.
The 28-year-old Super Eagles striker came on for Daniel Ciofani in the 59th minute.
William Troost-Ekong (Salernitana)
The Nigeria international made his debut for his new club days after leaving English Championship side Watford as he was named in the starting XI and was instrumental to his side’s 2-1 victory over Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare on Friday.
Ekong was on the pitch for the entire duration as Salernitana battled their way to further securing a topflight status for next season.
The 29-year-old put up an impressive performance to help his side secure maximum points on the road against Lecce.
The win also moved the Garnets to 14th place with 21 points from 20 games.
Ebuehi, Aina ( Empoli, Torino)
Defender Tyronne Ebuehi was in action for the entire duration as Empoli played a 2-2 draw against Ola Aina’s Torino at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international was impressive in the right-back position.
Empoli had a 2-0 lead in the 69th-minute through Sebastiano Luperto and Razvan Marin but could not hold on to the lead as Torino fought back and levelled up 2-2.
Aina made his return after picking up an injury last October and came in as a substitute for Mergim Vojvoda in the 85th minute
HOLLAND
Calvin Bassey (Ajax)
Nigeria defender Bassey started from the bench as struggling Dutch champions Ajax picked their first win in their last five games, days after sacking manager Alfred Schreuder, as they thrashed Excelsior 4-1 at the Van Donge and De Roo Stadion in the Dutch Eredivisie Division fixture on Sunday.
Bassey, who has been criticised for poor form since he made a summer move from Rangers, managed 11 minutes of action as he came on for Steven Berghuis in the second half of the game.
Ajax’s last win was a 3-1 victory against Glasgow Rangers in the Champions League on November 1, 2022.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Simon was in action for 74 minutes as Clermont Foot held Nantes to a goalless draw at the Stade Gabriel Montpied in a Ligue 1 fixture on Sunday as both sides extended their unbeaten runs.
The former Levante forward was impressive with his dribbles but could not break the strong defence of the Lancers.
Simon has featured in 17 Ligue 1 matches and has five goals and two assists to his name this season.
Terem Moffi (Lorient)
Nigeria international Moffi was not on Friday’s line-up for Liorent amid speculations of a possible exit away from Les Merlus in January, following interests from England and France.
Les Merlust continued their fine form with a 2-1 home win over Rennes in a Ligue 1 fixture played at the Stade Rennais on Friday
Moffi has been dropped from consecutive games by Lorient manager Régis Le Bris as the Nigerian striker was also not in action for the Coupe de France game at Bastia.
Moffi last featured for Lorient in their -1 defeat to Olympique Marseille.
Lorient are now sixth in the standings with 35 points from 20 games.
GERMANY
Afolayan, Afeez (St Pauli)
Oladapo Afolayan, an English player of Nigeria descent, and defensive midfielder Aremu Afeez started from the bench for St Pauli in the 1-0 win over Nurnberg in the Bundesliga second division match played at the 30,871 seater Max-Morlock-Stadion on Sunday.
The 25-year-old former Bolton Wanderers man Afolayan came on as a sub for Conor Metcalfe in the 59th minute, while Afeez came in stoppage time for Lukas Daschner.
The 23-year-old former Flying Eagles midfielder has made 12 appearances in all competitions for the Kiezkicker in the 2022/23 campaign.
St Pauli have struggled this season and the win moved them to 10th position on the Bundesliga second division table with 20 points from 18 matches.
TURKEY
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe)
Nigerian defender Osayi-Samuel was not named in the Fenerbahçe’s squad amid speculations of a possible exit from Süper Lig in January as The Yellow Canaries thrashed Kasimpasa 5-1 on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Nigeria international is currently sidelined with the injury he suffered in Fenerbahçe’s Ziraat Turkish Cup match at home to Çaykur Rizespor in a last-16 match on January 19.
Babajide, Onyekuru (Adana Demirspor)
David Babajide ended his three-month goal drought when he scored the second goal for Demirspor in their 2-1 away win over Sivasspor on Saturday at the Yeni 4 Eylul Stadi.
The 27-year-old last scored in October 2022 and found the back of the net in the 56th minute after converting an assist from Badou Ndiaye.
Emre Akbaba opened the scoring for the visitors in the 41 before Babajide added the second to seal a comfortable win.
Compatriot Henry Onyekuru was not on the squad list, with the forward yet to recover from injury.
The Blue Lightnings continue to chase European football action for next season and are fourth on the log with 37 points from 20 matches.
Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor)
Super Eagles captain Musa came on as a substitute for Kader Keita in the 89th minute but had little time on the field to make a positive impact for Sivasspor.
Sivasspor have been struggling with form and currently sit 17th on the Super Lig table with 18 points from 20 matches.
