•Payne hits brace, Ohale concedes own goal
•Success, Ajibade goals drought continues
It was a weekend of blistering performance for Nigerian stars in Europe as Folarin Balogun took his goals tally to 15, and Super Falcons striker Oshoala scored for Barcelona Femini in their 4-0 win over Deportivo Alaves Women. Also, Iheanacho scored his 40th Premier League goal for Leicester City. Here, ANTHONY NLEBEM takes a look at how Nigerian players performed for their various clubs over the weekend
FRANCE
Folarin Balogun (Reims)
Sensational striker Balogun, who scored a hat-trick against Lorient last weekend, continued with his fine form and scored one goal in Reims 4-0 win against Troyes in a French Lique 1 match at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday.
Balogun, 21, has been in fine form for the Red and Whites and is currently Ligue 1’s top scorer this campaign with 15 goals for mid-table Reims, more than the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar trio Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
SPAIN
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid Women)
Super Falcons striker Ajibade was a second-half substitute in Atletico Madrid Women’s 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao Women in the Spanish Women’s Primera Division match-day on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Nigerian striker has struggled with form this season and has only managed to score four goals in 18 matches for the Rojiblancos women in the 2022/23 season. She scored all her four goals in the league against Recreativo Huelva October 15, 2023 but has been unable to find the back of the net 13 games after then.
Toni Payne (Sevilla)
America-born Falcons forward Payne was in action for Sevilla Women in their 3-0 away win against Real Sociedad Women in the Spanish Women’s Primera Division match-day on Sunday.
The 27-year-old striker was exceptional as she scored a brace to give her side a comfortable win.
Payne was in action for the entire duration of the game and scored the opening goal in the 42nd minute and added the second goal 14 minutes later.
Oshoala, Ohale (Barcelona Femenin, Alaves)
Another Falcons striker Oshoala continued with her scoring form and scored her 18th goal as Barcelona thrashed Deportivo Alaves 4-0 in Spain Women’s Primera Division fixture played on Saturday to maintain their stunning record-winning streak.
The Nigeria international, who was in action for 77 minutes, has been in superb form for Barca and has registered 18 goals in 18 league appearances.
But it was a bad game for fellow Nigerian international, Osinachi Ohale, who scored an own goal in the encounter.
ITALY
Ehizibue, Success (Udinese)
Defender Kingsley Ehizibue was in action for Udinese in their 2-2 home draw to Sassuolo in a Serie A fixture at the
Dacia Arena – Stadio Friuli on Sunday.
The 27-year-old right-back was solid at the back and played the entire duration of the game, but got a yellow card in the 55th minute.
The result takes Udinese to 10th position in Serie A with 30 points from 22 matches.
Ehizibue has made 17 appearances and scored one goal for the Friulians in the 2022/ 23 Serie A season.
Also, Nigeria international Isaac Success came on from the bench but was less impressive as the 27-year-old striker continues to find his first league goal of the season after 22 matches.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Winger Lookman was again handed a starting role in Atalanta’s 2-0 away win against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
The Nigeria international was not on the score sheet chart but assisted Atalanta’s second goal as the Nerazzurri were looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Inter Milan and Sassuolo.
The Super Eagles forward was lively throughout his stay on the pitch, before he was replaced in the 89th minute by Jeremie Boga.
The win moved Atalanta to third place on the table after 22 rounds of matches.
Lookman now has six assists and 12 goals in the Serie A this season.
Tyronne Ebuehi (Empol)
Defender Ebuehi started for Empoli in their 2-2 draw against Spezia in a Serie A fixture at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Saturday.
The 27-year-old had a poor game and was replaced in the 60th minute by Petar Stojanovic as the Gli Azzurri side came from two goals deficit to level up in the second half.
Ebuehi has so far managed 13 Serie A matches and registered one goal as Empoli sit in 10th position on the table.
ENGLAND
Iheanacho, Ndidi (Leicester City)
Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, scored his 40th Premier League goal for Leicester City as they came from behind to win for the second time in a row, thrashing a dreadful Tottenham Hotspurs 4-1 at the King Power stadium on Saturday.
The goal was his third EPL goal of the season in 16 appearances (28th in 138 EPL games for Leicester since he joined from Man City in August 2017) and his fourth against Tottenham in 11 matches.
The Nigerian, who has been in fine form for the Foxes, also made an assist in the encounter to take his tally to 24 in the English topfllight since he made his debut in August 2015.
Iheanacho also became the second Nigerian after Yakubu Aiyegbeni (135) to record over 100 shots in the EPL on Saturday.
Iheanacho completed 100 per cent dribbles, seven duels won, four shots taken and two tackles made.
His compatriot Wilfred Ndidi came off the bench in the 69th minute for Nampalys Mendy, the midfielder getting closer to full fitness after a spell on the sidelines
Onuachu, Aribo (Southampton)
Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu started his first home game as his new club Southampton fell 2-1 to visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers in an EPL clash at the St. Mary’s on Saturday.
The 28-year-old struggled to make an impact with no shots on target and was replaced by Che Adams in the 74th minute.
Joe Aribo was a second-half substitute for Carlos Jonas Alcaraz in the 79th minute but could not change the score line as the Saints continued with their poor run, losing 15 matches and are at the bottom of the Premier League table. The midfielder has made 18 league appearances with two goals to his name but has struggled to command a starting role since the arrival of new manager Nathan Jones.
Dennis, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Nigeria international Dennis came off the bench in the 56th minute for Gustavo Scarpa but could not rescue Nottingham Forest from falling to a 2-0 defeat to Fulham at the Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Fellow teammate Taiwo Awoniyi did not make the squad as the 25-year-old battles to recover from injury.
Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)
Akpom was in the starting XI for Middlesbrough in their 3-1 win at Cardiff City in a Championship match played at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old was in action and was impressive but could not find the net and came off for Matt Crooks in the 89th minute.
Akpom has been impressive in the 2022/23 season and has scored 16 goals in 24 league appearances for Boro in the Championship.
BELGIUM
Gift Orban (Gent)
Little-known Nigerian striker Orban began his debut with a brace for KAA Gent in their 3-3 away draw to Westerlo in the Belgium Pro League match played at the Het Kuipje Stadium on Saturday.
The 20-year-old, who signed for the Belgium side in January from Norwegian club Stabaek, was very impressive, won a penalty and scored his first goal in the 30th minute and added the second in the 66th minute to save his side from defeat.
CROATIA
Chidozie Awaziem (Hajduk Split)
Eagles defender Awaziem was in action as Hajduk Split comfortably dispatched Varaždin 4-1 at the Stadion Andelko Herjavec on Saturday.
The 26-year-old played the entire duration of the game and got a yellow card in the 65th, but had a brilliant performance in his side’s away win.
The Boavista man, who is on loan at Hajduk, has started 17 matches and scored four goals in the SuperSport HNL league this season.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ogbu, Olayinka (Slavia Prague)
Nigerian defender Igoh Ogbu made his Slavia Prague debut after sealing a January move from Norwegian side Lillestrøm in January and played the entire duration as the Slavists sealed a comfortable 2-0 home win over visiting Zbrojovka Brnoat at the Fortuna Arena on Saturday.
Fellow compatriot Peter Olayinka also featured prominently but could not get on the scorers chart.
SAUDI ARABIA
Ighalo (Al Hilal)
Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo was in action for Al Hilal in their 5-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the final of the Club World Cup.
The former Eagles and Manchester United forward followed the footpath of Victor Moses and John Mikel Obi, who also lost the prestigious Club World Cup final with Chelsea in 2012.
