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Monday, Akpom bag brace to mark resurgence
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Aina scores first goal in over a year
It was another weekend of mixed fortunes for Nigerian players abroad as they continued to make their mark for their various clubs. EBENEZER BAJELA and ABIODUN ADEWALE report
SUNDAY
Spain
Monday, Okoronkwo, Babajide (Tenerife) Ajibade (Atletico)
Gift Monday scored a brace on Sunday as Tenerife beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Campo de Fútbol de Adeje in the Primera División Femenina.
The 21-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 54th minute before adding the second two minutes after to put the home side in the driving seat before Lucía Moral grabbed a goal for the visitors in the 61stminute courtesy of an assist from Rasheedat Ajibade.
The brace on Sunday saw Monday opened her goalscoring account for the season after five appearances.
Super Falcons Esther Okoronkwo was also in action as she started in the midfield for Tenerife before she was replaced after the break by her compatriot Rinsola Babajide, who made her debut for Nigeria against Ethiopia during the last Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
After scoring for Nigeria in both games against Ethiopia Ajibade started on the bench for Atletico Madrid as they sought to make it 18 games without a defeat against Tenerife.
The Falcons captain was sent in after the team went two goals down as they sought an instant response.
Ajibade made an immediate impact assisting Moral for Atletico’s goal but it was not enough to stop them from going down against Monday and her teammates.
Samu Omorodion (Deportivo Alaves)
Omorodion could not add to his three-goal tally as Alaves defeated Almeria at the Estadio Mendizorroza on Sunday.
The Spanish player of Nigerian descent was brought in for Kike Garcia in the 68th minute in a tactical substitution as the home side went out in search of the goal.
Omorodion tormented Almeria’s defense but despite his effort, he was unable to find the back of the net.
England
Aina, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Ola Aina was the unlikely hero and goalscorer as Forest secured a comfortable 2-0 win over in-form Aston Villa at the City Ground, Nottingham.
The right-back scored his first goal for the Tricky Trees since joining the Premier League club on a free transfer from Torino last summer.
The goal was also the Nigerian’s first in 12 months with his last goal scored October 23, 2022 against Udinese in the Serie A.
The 27-year-old opened the scoring for the home side five minutes into the game with a scorching shot from outside the penalty area before Orel Mangala added the second goal for Forest two minutes after the start of the second half.
During the game, Aina had four clearances, won six ground duels, got dribbled past twice, had 44 touches of the ball, lost possession nine times and completed 70% of his passes.
Also, Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi started his first game since his return from injury.
The striker was in action for 82 minutes before he was taken for Danilo with the game already sealed.
France
Moses Simon (Nantes)
A Junya Ito’s 75th-minute strike was enough to condemn Simon and his teammates to their fifth defeat of the season.
The Nigerian was in action for 90 minutes at the Stade de la Beaujoire but could do little as his side suffered at home.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form for the Yellow Canaries this season scoring two goals and providing five assists in 10 league appearances.
The Netherlands
Chuba Akpom (Ajax)
Akpom continued his resurgence with another two goals in Ajax’s 4-1win over SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
The 28-year-old was on the bench for 73 minutes before he was called into action to replace Kristian Hlynsson.
Akpom immediately repaid this new manager’s faith in him by getting his first goal and Ajax’s third in the 84th minute to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.
He added his second in the 92nd minute to round off the game.
Following a tough start to the season, the Eagles eligible has now scored three goals in seven league appearances.
Scotland
Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)
Dessers was in action for 13 minutes on Sunday as Rangers sealed a 3-1 away against Hearts in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup.
The Nigerian striker was brought on for Danilo in the 77th minute but saw little action with the game practically over.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)
In a nail-biting Premier League clash, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey were left devastated as a late goal by Bruno Fernandes secured a narrow 1-0 victory for Manchester United over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Both players were on for the entire duration of the game and Iwobi was cautioned in the 84th for a rough challenge.
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
After earning a place in the starting eleven on Saturday, Onyeka made his first goal contribution for Bretford this season by assisting the Bee’s first goal in their thrilling 3-2 London Derby triumph over West Ham United. The midfielder provided for Neil Maupay in the 11th minute while an own goal by Konstantinos Mavropanos and the last goal from Nathan Collins sealed a comeback win for Brentford after Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen had scored for West Ham.
GERMANY
VICTOR BONIFACE (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Newest Victor in town, Boniface continued his fine form for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, providing two assists in their exhilarating 2-3 victory over Kevin Akpoguma’s Hoffenheim. The 22-year-old has contributed 12 goals for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga this season with seven goals and five assists as they maintain their unbeaten run in the league and also top of the table with 28 points from 10 matches.
KELVIN AKPOGUMA (HOFFENHEIM)
Defender, Akpoguma was on the receiving end of a home defeat in the Bundesliga as his Hoffenheim side were beaten 3-2 by leaders Leverkusen at the PreZero Arena. Akpoguma was on for 88 minutes in his sixth appearance in the league this season for Hoffenheim as they occupy the 6th position in the table with 18 points from 10 games.
FRANCE
FLOURISH, IMURAN, DEMEHIN (REIMS)
In the French women’s league, new Stade de Reims signing, Flourish Sabastine made a stellar debut in the Feminine Division 1, while Rofiat Imuran also shone, aiding Stade de Reims to a commendable 2-0 away win against Bordeaux. Both players came on as second half substitutes in the game while their compatriot, Tosin Demehin was not listed for the game. Reims are 5th in the table with 10 points from five matches.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
It was a disappointment at home for Lookman and his 10-man Atalanta as they fell 2-1 against Inter Milan. The Nigerian provided the assist for Gianluca Scamacca for Atalanta’s goal in the second half but it was only a consolation as Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez had scored for Inter.
CHUKWUBUIKEM IKWUEMESI (SALERNITANA)
Although Victor Osimhen was not on parade for Napoli, the Italian champions were too strong for Ikwuemesi’s Salernitana as they lost 2-0 at home. Ikwuemesi led the hosts attack for 69 minutes before he was replaced by Jamaican international Trivante Stewart. The striker has missed some parts of the early stages of the season due to injury and has managed seven appearances without a goal in the league for The Garnets. His only goal for the club this season came last Tuesday during their 4-0 win over Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia.
BELGIUM
YUSUF (ANTWERP), AROKODARE (GENK)
Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf delivered a solid performance in midfield as Royal Antwerp secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Tolu Arokodare’s KRC Genk in their Belgian Pro League clash.
SWITZERLAND
SAMUEL KALU (LAUSANNE-SPORT)
In Switzerland, Samuel Kalu’s standout performance for Lausanne-Sport, which included a goal and an assist, led them to a convincing 3-1 win over Lugano.
TURKEY
ONUACHU (TRABZONSPOR), OSAYI-SAMUEL (FENERBAHCE)
Lanky forward Paul Onuachu returned to his goal scoring form for Trabzonspor in the Turkish top-flight as his side secured a tough 3-2 win away over 10-man Fenerbahce which also had Nigerian full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel. The tall Nigerian forward found the back of the net in the 10th minute for his fourth goal in seven games, heading home from a cross to open the scoring. In the 41st minute, Onuachu seemed to extend the lead as he rose to head in a corner kick, but the referee ruled out the goal for a foul.
Osayi-Samuel also featured for the hosts who had won all their games before playing against Trabzonspor.
NETHERLANDS
BOBBY ADEKANYE (GO AHEAD EAGLES)
Twenty-four-year-old Adekanye made his second goal contribution in nine games for Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch League on Saturday. He was a provider in the 5-1 win over Vitesse, as they recorded their fifth win of the season to stay 5th in the Eredivisie table with 18 points in eleven
games.
