ENGLAND
LESLEY UGOCHUKWU (CHELSEA)
Newly signed midfielder Ugockukwu had a place in the starting lineup against Bournemouth as he made his third appearance for Chelsea in the EPL. The French youth international played all the duration of the goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium.
ITALY
ADEOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
Perhaps inspired by his impressive outing with the Super Eagles against Sao Tome and Principe during the international break, Lookman has broken his dock this season after four games, scoring for Atalanta against Fiorentina. He scored an equaliser in the 53rd minute to make the game 2-2, but the hosts earned a 3-2 win thanks to a 76th minute winner by Ivory Coast’s Christian Kouame.
SUCCESS, OKOYE (UDINESE)
Striker Isaac Success and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye were both on the bench as Udinese forced Cagliari to a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Udinese are yet to win a game this season.
NETHERLANDS
CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)
New Ajax striker Akpom is still waiting for his first goal for the Dutch giants, after making his second appearance in their 3-1 defeat against FC Twente. Unlike his first appearance when he came on as a substitute, he started the game against Twente but was substituted in the second half. Ajax are yet to tick this season, sitting 12th on the table with just one win in four matches.
BELGIUM
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Fresh from their maiden call ups with the Super Eagles, although they didn’t make their bows, striker Gift Orban and defender Jordan Torunarigha returned to the starting line up for Gent in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League. They were both in action for the entire duration of the game as Gent were held to a 1-1 draw by Leuven. Jonatan Brunes gave Leuven an early lead before Ismael Kandouss restored parity for Gent before halftime.
DENMARK
STEPHEN ODEY (RANDERS)
Former MFM striker Odey continued his sojourn in Denmark on Sunday with another inspiring performance in Randers 2-1 win over Vejle. He provided the assist for their first goal which was scored by Bjorn Kopplin in the 47th minute. Odey was taken off in the 81st minute.
GREECE
WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG (PAOK)
Super Eagles defender Troost Ekong was on parade for his new club PAOK in their goalless draw against Aris on Sunday. It was his second start in the league as PAOK are fourth on the table with seven points.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)
Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey came off the bench for Fulham as the Cottagers defeated Luton Town 1-0 at Craven Cottage. It was Iwobi’s debut for the club since switching from Everton on deadline day.
ELIJAH ADEBAYO (LUTON)
England born Adebayo was also a second half substitute in Luton’s 1-0 defeat at Fulham. It’s been a difficult start to life in the EPL for the 25-year-old and the newly promoted side who are yet to win any of their four games so far.
AJAYI, MAJA (WEST BROM)
In the Championship, defender Semi Ajayi and new striker Josh Maja featured for the Baggies in their goalless draw against Bristol City at Ashton Gate Stadium.
JAMILU COLLINS (CARDIFF CITY)
Left-back and new Super Eagles returnee, Collins bagged an assist as Cardiff City recorded their second win of the season with a 2-0 win over Swansea City. The defender assisted Ollie Tanner for Cardiff’s first goal before Aaron Ramsey added the second from the penalty spot.
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
Still waiting for his first start in Milan, Chukwueze tasted his first defeat with AC Milan as they suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to city rivals Inter Milan.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)
Osimhen and defending champions Napoli fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Genoa but the Nigerian striker could not add to his three-goal tally in the Serie A this season.
DAVID OKEREKE (CREMONESE)
In Serie B, Okereke continued in his effort to try and regain promotion for his club as he came off the bench to assist in Cremonese’s 2-2 draw away at Reggiana.
SPAIN
ASISAT OSHOALA (BARCELONA FEMININE)
Last season’s highest goal scorer for Barcelona Feminine and Ballon d’Or nominee, Oshoala, picked up from where she left off last term as she came off the bench to score their second goal in a 2-0 away win against bitter rivals Real Madrid. Oshoala’s 21 goals last season helped Barcelona win the league title.
RAHEEDAT AJIBADE (ATLETICO MADRID FEMININE)
Atletico Madrid also began their Primera División Femenina campaign with a convincing 3-0 home win over Athletic Club, with Rasheedat Ajibade influential in the final third.
FRANCE
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE (PARIS FC)
Off the back of an impressive display in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers, Chiamaka Nnandozie resumed league actions with Paris FC and had a remarkable start to their Feminine Division 1 campaign with a clean sheet as they beat Lille 4-0 at Complexe Sportif Stadium 2.
IMURAN, DEMEHIN (STADE REIMS)
Despite not featuring for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Rofiat Imuran began the French women’s league on Saturday as a second half substitute for Stade Reims in their 2-0 win over Saint-Étienne. Her compatriot, Tosin Demehin who both formed part of the backline in the team last term was not listed for the game.
OUT, MBADI, YEWANDE (SAINT-ÉTIENNE)
Super Falcons midfielder Regina Otu and Amanda Mbadi featured in their 2-0 defeat against Stade Reims at the Stade Louis Belriot while goalkeeper Yewande Balogun was on the bench.
BELGIUM
TOLU AROKODARE (GENK)
In Belgium’s First Division A, Arokodare came off the bench for the second consecutive game and provided an assist in Genk’s 2-0 away win at Union Saint-Gilloise. The striker opened his league goal account before the international break and has an assist added to it.
RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Raphael Onyedika put on a strong midfield performance as Club Brugge won 4-2 against Sporting Charleroi. He was cautioned in the second half.
SERBIA
SUNDAY ADETUNJI (CUKARICKI)
In Serbia, Sunday Adetunji made his league debut with a goal as he scored the winner for Cukaricki in their shocking 2-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade which had Peter Olayinka. The striker moved from Macedonian First League club KF Shkupi to join the Serbian club on
September 1.
