European football on our screens isn’t the same without the host of Nigerian players abroad that we have come to love. In this article, Oladipupo Mojeed reviews last week’s performance.
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Spain
Samuel Chukwueze
Chukwueze ended his 12-month league goal drought with his 21st-minute strike against Real Valladolid on Monday.
The Nigerian last scored in the Spanish top flight in Villareal’s 3-1 home defeat to Celta Vigo in 2019. His goal on Monday night helped the yellow submarines grab their 4th win of the season. This also propelled them to 3rd on the league standings.
Villareal’s center-back Pau Torres scored the second goal as they secured a 2-0 victory over Real Villadolid.
Nigerian Players in England
Ola Aina
Aina is on loan from Torino and scored his first goal for Fulham in their match against West Bromwich Albion. This secured their first victory of the season.
The 24-year-old scored a sensational goal in the 30th minute to extend Fulham’s lead after Bobby Reid’s opener. He was also impressive defensively as he helped his side to their first cleansheet of the season.
Fulham now sits 17th on the league standings with 1 point above the relegation zone.
Semi Ajayi
Ajayi played the entire duration of the game for the Baggies on Monday night but couldn’t stop the Cottagers from securing a 2-0 victory.
His compatriot Ola Aina scored a belter from the edge of the box to seal the game in Fulham’s favour.
West Brom are now without a win in 7 games this season. This leaves them in 18th place with 3 points gathered so far.
William Troost-Ekong
William Troost-Ekong suffered his first defeat with the Hornets in their 0-1 defeat to Barnsley on Saturday.
The centre-back made his second full match appearance for Watford but couldn’t stop them from losing. He also received a yellow card very early in the match.
Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi made a cameo appearance as he came on in the 77th minute.
He came on as a substitute for Everton’s right-back Jonjoe Kenny. Although he had a good game, his team was defeated 2-1 defeat by Newcastle.
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Germany
Kevin Akpoguma
Kevin Akpoguma featured in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 loss to Union Berlin on Monday.
Sebastian Hoeneb switched to a back four which he tried out towards the end of their last game. This was in contrast to the back 3 he used in previous games.
The game went quite well for Hoffenheim until they were reduced to ten men after Robert Skov was sent off for fouling in the penalty box.
Although Hoffenheim leveled the scoreline in the 80th minute, their defence was not able to hold out for a draw as Union Berlin’s duo Joel Pohjanpalo and Cedric Teuchert added two more before the final whistle.
Nigerian Players in Belgium
Paul Onuachu & Cyriel Dessers
Nigerian duo Paul Onuachu and Cyriel Dessers started together to lead the line for Genk in their 4-0 massacre of Eupen on Friday.
Paul Onuachu opened scoring in the 5th minute as he found the back of the net from the penalty spot. He also set up his compatriot Cyriel Dessers in the 48th minute to double the lead. He now sits at the top of the goal scoring charts with 9 goals.
Dessers was taken off in the 61st minute for Kristian Thorstvedt while Onuachu was taken off in the 75th minute for Junya Ito.
Join us again next week when we bring you another edition analyzing the performance of Nigerian players abroad.
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