• Osimhen scores 100th club career goal
• Emegha on target in France as Adams fires blanks
It was another weekend of impressive performances for Nigerian stars abroad with Victor Osimhen scoring a landmark goal in his club career just as other players made their marks. ABIODUN ADEWALE writes
SUNDAY
ITALY
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)
Current holder of the highest goal scorer award in the Italian Serie A, Osimhen, is fast cementing his club career as he scored his 100th club career goal in Napoli’s game against Sassuolo on Sunday. The striker converted from the penalty spot in the 16th minute to reach the milestone. Previously, he has scored 61 goals for Napoli, 18 for Lille in France and 20 for RSC Charleroi in Belgium. His 100th goal came in his 193rd appearances for the clubs altogether.
ENGLAND
TOM DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)
Having made headlines recently by scoring the fastest goal in the Championship, Dele-Bashiru kept his place in the starting line up for Watford on Sunday, but they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Blackburn at Vicarage Road. Ryan Hedges scored for the visitors in the second half.
FRANCE
AKOR ADAMS (Montpellier)
For the first time this season, new Ligue 1 sensation, Akor Adams failed to score in the league and his side, Montpellier, also suffered a shocking 3-1 home defeat against Reims on match-day three of the French topflight. Adams, who has three goals already this season, was not on target in the game. Mousa Al-Taamari scored for the hosts to half the deficit in the first half, but the visitors added the third in the second half.
EMANUEL EMEGHA (STRASBOURG)
Another Nigerian descent player Emanuel Emegha announced his presence in the Ligue 1 on Sunday, scoring in Strasbourg’s 2-0 win at home over Toulouse. The Strasbourg No. 10 was on target in the 52nd minute for their first goal and Jeanricner Bellegarde added the second later on. It was his second game of the season.
Born in the Netherlands to a Togolese father and Nigerian mother, the 20-year-old has played for the Dutch youth sides.
PORTUGAL
CHIDOZIE AWAZIEM (BOAVISTA)
Super Eagles defender, Awaziem, was on for the entire duration of the game as his side, Boavista, played out a 1-1 draw against Casa Pia AC in the Portuguese topflight. Clayton Fernandes Silva stunned Boavista in the first half with the visitor’s goal but right back, Pedro Malheiro, scored for Boavista in the 79th minute. Awaziem and Boavista are joint top of the table with seven points after three games.
SAVIOUR GODWIN (CASA PIA AC)
Another Nigerian, Godwin, was up against Awaziem as his side, Casa Pia AC faced off with Boavista at the Godwin. He was taken off in the 88th minute of the game after an impressive outing. Casa Pia are seventh with four points from three games.
DENMARK
TOCHI CHUKWUANI (LYNGBY)
Twenty-year-old Chukwuani retained his spot in the starting eleven but couldn’t prevent Lyngby from suffering a 1-0 loss to Aarhus Gymnastikforening. The hosts scored as early as the sixth minute through Patrick Mortensen and saw off the game. The midfielder has scored a goal already this season.
TIJANI, OGBU (SLAVIA PRAGUE)
Striker Muhammed Tijani and defender Igoh Ogbu were both in action for Slavia Prague in their match-day six game against Jablonec. Tijani was unable to add to his one goal tally and was cautioned in the first half just as Ogun also received a yellow card in the second half.
BULGARIA
AKERE, NADI (BOTEV PLOVDIV)
Little known Samuel Akere, who was recently invited for Nigeria’s u-23 side during the ill-fated Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers, was in action for Botev Plovdiv in the Bulgaria first tier on Sunday as they recorded a 1-1 draw against Etar.
His compatriot, Tochukwu Nadi, a midfielder who played for Nigeria recently at the U-20 level was an unused substitute in the game. Plovdiv’s goal was scored by Ivelin Popov in the 67th minute while the hosts equalised in the 74th minute through Nikolay Yankov. Akere has featured in all their seven games in the league this season but he is yet to score.
SATURDAY
USA
MICHELLE ALOZIE (HOUSTON DASH)
In what is her second league game for Houston Dash since returning from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Super Falcons defender Alozie, scored a must-see goal in their 1-1 draw with Kansas City Current on matchday 17 of the National Women’s Soccer League. Alozie restored parity for Houston Dash in the 67th minute when she strode forward from the right flank into the penalty area before unleashing a precise strike into the bottom left corner. The Nigerian has been a force on the right side of the backline for Houston Dash who are currently ninth in the NWSL.
ENGLAND
AWONIYI, AINA, DENNIS (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Taiwo Awoniyi continued his sensational form in the Premier League, notching his seventh consecutive goal for Nottingham Forest in their 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Nigerian opened scoring with a superb solo run as early as the second minute while Willy Boly doubled their advantage two minutes later. The Red Devils however fought back through Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes to win the game.
Awoniyi’s compatriot, Ola Aina also returned to Forest’s starting lineup for the game and was cautioned in the 62nd minute.
Meanwhile, striker Emmanuel Dennis still seems want-away at the club as he was not listed in the squad.
DESTINY UDOGIE (TOTTENHAM)
Italy U-21 player of Nigerian descent, Udogie, put in a good shift again as Tottenham recorded their second win of the season, beating AFC Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. The left back has kept his shirt in the backline since returning from a loan spell at Udinese. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski got the goals for Spurs.
BASSEY, ADARABIOYO (FULHAM)
At the Emirates Stadium, Bassey was sent off for a second bookable offence as the Cottagers held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw. The defender was first cautioned in the 50th minute before being given the marching orders for a foul on Eddie Nketiah in the 83rd minute.
Meanwhile, Tosin Adarabioyo, who has been linked with a move away from Fulham was brought on in the 89th minute for Bobby Reid to strengthen their backline as Fulham saw out the game 2-2.
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
Midfielder Onyeka made his first Premier League appearance this season in Brentford’s 1-1 draw at home against Crystal Palace. He was introduced in the 72nd minute for Mathias Jensen.
AJAYI, MAJA (WEST BROM)
In the Championship, Semi Ajayi played a crucial role, providing an assist for Cedric Kipre to score West Brom’s opening goal in their 4-2 win over Middlesbrough.
Josh Maja is still waiting for his first start for the Baggies, as he came on again as a second half substitute for Matt Phillips.
FRED ONYEDINMA (ROTHERHAM UNITED)
Back in the starting line-up after his sending off two weeks ago, Onyedinma scored for Rotherham United, but he was undone by his compatriots at Leicester City, as the Foxes claimed a 2-1 victory on the road at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. He has two goals already in the Championship this season.
IHEANACHO, NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)
Kelechi Iheanacho provided an assist for Kasey McAteer in the first half as Leicester City claimed their fourth consecutive win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over Rotterdam away from home.
Wilfred Ndidi also made his third start of the campaign as both players continued to play their parts in Leicester’s journey back to the EPL. Both players were subbed off midway through the second half and are yet to score in the Championship this season.
GERMANY
VICTOR BONIFACE (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
In the German topflight, Victor Boniface eventually opened his Bundesliga account with a brilliant brace that inspired Bayer Leverkusen to a commanding 3-0 triumph away against Borussia Monchengladbach in The Rhine Derby. Boniface scored his first in the 18th minute and completed his brace in the second half after Jonathan Tah had doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime.
KEVIN APOGUMA (HOFFENHEIM)
Elsewhere, Kevin Akpoguma showcased his defensive prowess as Hoffenheim battled to a thrilling 3-2 victory on the road against newly-promoted Heidenheim.
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
In Serie A, Samuel Chukwueze enjoyed a winning start on his home debut for AC Milan at the San Siro, but the winger was only introduced in the second half. He came on for Olivier Giroud in the 66th minute after the Frenchman had rounded up scoring for Milan.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
On the losing side against Napoli’s Victor Osimhen last week, newly promoted side Frosinone returned home and got their first win of the season with a 2-1 win over Lookman’s Atalanta. The forward was substituted in the second half of the match.
TYRONNE EBUEHI (EMPOLI)
Defender, Ebuehi, was in action for the entire duration of the game, but he could not prevent EMpoli from suffering a 2-0 defeat against Monza. It was a second successive defeat for Empoli who also lost a home against Verona on the opening weekend.
