Ex- Kano Pillars defender, Eze, scores twice in Bulgaria

As the Super Eagles set to take on Brazil in an international friendly, Nigerian players were in imperious form at the weekend with no fewer than 10 goals recorded across Europe.
While former Kwara Football Academy star, Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure, followed his double Champions League strike against Real Madrid with another in the league, Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon were never to be left out of the goals party as they contributed one goal each for Lille and Nantes respectively in the French Championat.
Surprisingly, it was a certain former Kano Pillars player, Stephen Eze that won the biggest plaudit for scoring twice from his central defensive role for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian League.
ADEBAYO OLODAN, yet again, reports the performances of Nigerian players abroad at the weekend.

ENGLAND
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Ndidi played the full game and walked a tightrope for more than an hour after he was yellow carded in the 30th minute. His teammate, Iheanacho was not included in the matchday squad.
Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea) & Michael Obafemi (Southampton): The new England invitees (Abraham and Tomori) lasted the duration of the Blues 4-1 defeat of Southampton with Abraham contributing the first goal in the 17th min. Abraham was replaced in the 84th min while Obafemi played the last 10 mins for the home team (Southampton).
Leon Balogun (Brighton): The leggy defender was a non-playing substitute when his team shocked last season’s Champions League finalists, Tottenham Hotspur 3-0.
The match was the first time Balogun will be appearing in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time since May 5.
Alex Iwobi (Everton): The former Arsenal man twice came close to scoring for the Toffees in the 14th and 40th min. The winger went the distance for the visitors who suffered a 0-1 loss to Burnley.
Sadio Mane’s cool composed finish at minute 40 separated the two teams at the break but the Foxes hit back with just over ten minutes to go through James Maddison.
Liverpool had the chance to win the game when they were given a penalty in stoppage time and it was converted by James Milner.
In a remarkable match at Carrow Road, Adam Idah watched proceedings from the bench as Norwich City were thrashed 5-1 by Aston Villa.
Wesley (2), Jack Grealish, Conor Hourihane and Douglas Luiz struck for Aston Villa while Josip Drmic pulled a goal back for the home team two minutes from time.
Finally, Isaac Success and Tom Dele-Bashiru were not in Watford’s 18 as they shared the spoils with Sheffield United in a goalless draw.
Akande jets off to Germany for transfer talks with Hoffenheim
Promising youngster, Adrian Akande and his intermediary are presently on their way to Germany, where they will hold transfer talks with German Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim.
The winger is set to reject the chance to sign a scholarship with the Stamford Bridge outfit, having made it clear that he wants to move onto pastures new and to a club where there’s a pathway to the first team.
Akande will train with Hoffenheim and be shown around the club’s facilities upon his arrival in Germany.
The Golden Eaglets invitee, who was part of the squad to the U17 AFCON in Tanzania, has trained with Chelsea for the past one month after visiting Scotland and training with West Ham.
Glasgow Rangers and Celtic are fighting over his signature while the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been in touch with the player’s camp.
Akande arrived at Chelsea from the youth team of Crystal Palace at the age of twelve
The winger, who is yet to celebrate his 16th birthday, has already made his debut in the Premier League 2, a youth league for U23 players.
Why Chelsea’s Tomori is not proud of Nigerian root – Efe
Former Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose has claimed that he was shocked when he was told that Chelsea star, Fikayo Tomori has Nigerian roots because during their time together at Derby County the 21-year-old didn’t for once talked about it.
According to him, Tomori feels more British than Nigerian which is entirely not his fault considering that he was born and raised in England.
Ambrose said this while reacting to the decision of England manager, Gareth Southgate to include Tomori in the Three Lions squad, for their Euro 2020 qualifying games against Czech Republic and Bulgaria later this month.
Tomori and fellow Chelsea teammate, Tammy Abraham, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria were included in England squad on Thursday.
If they accept the invitation and eventually feature in any of the matches, they will not be able to represent the Super Eagles again.
“Tomori was very popular at Derby. He has later voted the player of the season but not once did he talked about his Nigerian roots. In fact, it was a journalist friend of mine that told him he has Nigerian roots. It’s very unusual because most Nigerian players born abroad usually like to associate with fellow Nigerians particularly if you have played for the national team as I did for years,” the 30-year-old told Owngoalnigeria.
”I am not surprised, in fact, I would have if he decided to represent Nigeria. He feels very British which is understandable considering the fact that he was born and raised there. Canada is the biggest losers considering the fact that he played for them at U17 level based on what I gathered.”
CHAMPIONSHIP
Bright Osayi-Samuel & Eberechi Eze (QPR): Osayi-Samuel provided an assist in the 30th min while Eze made it 2-0 four minutes against Blackburn Rovers after the restart when he beat his man and slotted home. On the hour mark, Osayi-Samuel shot low into the far corner to restore QPR’s two-goal advantage.
QPR ended up winning the match 4-2 against Rovers.
SCOTLAND
Sheyi Ojo and Joe Aribo (Rangers): Ojo was substituted in the 74th min while Super Eagles midfielder, Aribo was a non-playing substitute as their club whitewashed Hamilton Academical 5-0.
SPAIN
Ramon Azeez (Granada): The former U-20 skipper was substituted in the 51st min of his team’s 2-4 loss to league leaders Real Madrid.
Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes):  Awaziem lasted the distance while the injured Omeruo was not listed as their club suffered a 1-2 loss at home to Levante.
Odubeko in shocking move to Real Madrid
Prolific striker, Ademipo Odubeko, could join Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid after leaving Manchester United in the summer.
According to Don Balon, Real Madrid’s President, Florentino Pérez, who has signed some of the most promising young talents in the world such as, Vinicius, Kubo, Martin Odegaard and Rodrygo Goes in recent years, is interested in Odubeko.
Odubeko is currently without a club after he decided not to pen a scholarship deal with Man United in the summer.
Odubeko rejected new contract offer from Manchester United in June this year.
The 16-year-old, who has been compared to Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé at his age, scored over 34 goals for Man United’s youth teams last season.
Odubeko has also drawn interest from West Ham, Atlético Madrid and Juventus in recent weeks.
Chukwueze welcomes 3 Nigerians at Villarreal
Following the impressive performance of former Golden Eaglets winger, Samuel Chukwueze in Spain, his club, Villarreal has signed three more Nigerians into their youth team.
The trio of Chukwuka Johnson, Aimufua Junior and Johnson Kalu impressed the officials of the Spanish club during a trial tournament and were subsequently handed contracts by Villarreal.
Chukwuka is a winger while Aimufua and Johnson are striker and attacking midfielder respectively. Should the trio impress at the youth level, they are expected to be handed professional contracts with the senior team.
ITALY
Ola Aina (Torino): He was introduced in the 83rd min of his team’s goalless draw against
Napoli.
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): He was in the heart of defence for 90 mins as his team suffered a slim 0-1 loss to Fiorentina.
SERIE B
Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Crotone): The out of favour Super Eagles striker took his tally for the season to four goals in the league thanks to his brace when his team secured a 3-1 win over Virtus Entella. The lanky forward opened the scoring in the 27th min and got his second goal of the game seven minutes before half-time.
GERMANY
Anthony Ujah and Suleiman Abdullahi (Union Berlin): Former Super Eagles striker, Ujah was introduced in the 77th min while his teammate, Suleiman was not listed of their team’s 0-1 loss to Wolfsburg.
Jordan Torunarigha (Hertha Berlin): He was an unused substitute when his team defeated Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1.
Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07) & Karim Onisiwo and Taiwo Awoniyi (Mainz 05): Super Eagles left-back, Collins was on for the duration of his team’s 1-2 loss to Mainz 05 for whom Onisiwo featured for 85 mins while Awoniyi was a non-playing substitute.
Collins rues penalty gift
Super Eagles left-back Jamilu collins has apologized to fans of SC Paderborn after his penalty loss cost them a point at home to Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The 25-year-old has been a standout performer for the newly-promoted outfit this season but had an unforgettable afternoon for Paderborn as they suffered their 6th league loss of the campaign.
Collins was at fault for the penalty that put Mainz 2-1 up in the first half before he was presented with the opportunity to redeem himself but the left-back saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper to hand the visitors the win.
He, however, told AOIFootball.com afterwards that he was saddened by the missed opportunity but is confident they will bounce back after the international break.
“It’s unfortunate with the result of the match yesterday. I felt we played well and did not deserve to lose. The penalty miss was painful but it’s part of the game and I hope to bounce back from it,” Jamilu said.
The former HNK Rijeka defender will now turn his attention to Nigeria’s upcoming friendly against Brazil in Singapore as he eyes his 13th senior cap.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes): The diminutive forward scored the winning goal in the 86th min to claim all three points against Nice and was substituted in injury time.
Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja (Bordeaux): The duo were missing in their club’s 3-1 win at Toulouse. Kalu who has been a regular for Les Girondins this season was not in the squad last night, while Maja was on the bench for the entire 90 mins.
Osimhen rescues point for Lille
Victor Osimhen continued his 100 per cent home form for Lille as he scored late to rescue a point for them in their 2-2 draw at home to Nimes Olympique.
Fresh from scoring his debut Champions League goal against Chelsea last Wednesday, the 20-year-old led the line for the hosts who were hoping to record their fifth league win at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
They, however, got off to the perfect start when former Chelsea striker Loic Remy put them ahead on 12 minutes before Osimhen received his second yellow card of the season on 38 minutes.
With halftime already in sight, the visitors equalized from the spot when Jose Fonte brought down Romain Philippoteaux with Renauld Ripart stepping up to convert for 1-1.
The host was then stunned 19 minutes from time when Renauld Ripart fed Kevin Denkey with the Togolese striker making no mistake as he scored his third goal of the campaign to make it 2-0.
But with time running out, Osimen, the league’s top scorer, equalised 11 minutes from time to net his 7th league goal of the campaign and preserve their unbeaten home run to the league.
Osimhen now sits top of the scorers’ chart in France going into the second international free window when Nigeria takes on world champions Brazil next week in Singapore.
HOLLAND
Ejuke scoops Dutch Young Player of the Month award
Chidera Ejuke has been named the best U-21 player in the Dutch Eredivisie for the month of September following his fantastic display for Heerenven, AOIFootball.com reports.
The 21-year-old summer acquisition from Norway began the month on a sour note away to Ajax which saw his team lose 4-1 before he rescued a point in their 1-1 draw at home to Utrecht.
He then ended the month in fantastic fashion as he became just the second SC Heerenveen player ever to score twice within the first 13 minutes of a match as they humbled VVV Venlo 3-0 to finish the month on a high.
The performance was enough to see the Nigerian named the young player of the month and also making the team of the month in the Eredivisie with his total haul of 63 dibbles, the most in the division this campaign.
The former Valerenga forward has scored 4 goals in 7 starts and would definitely be on the radar of the national team coaches ahead of November AFCON qualifiers should he continue to maintain his good form.
Ugbo scores again for Roda
Ike Ugbo who is on loan at the Dutch club from Chelsea scored his team’s first goal in the 51st minute while Belgian Niels Verburgh grabbed the winner two minutes before full time.
The strike was the fifth of the season for Ugbo in eight league matches.
Most of the pre-match talk ahead of the game at the Rabobank IJmond Stadion centered around Ugbo’s delayed salary and there had been speculations he could return to Chelsea in the January transfer window.
However, Ugbo received his wages this week and the attacker is likely see out his contract with the Kerkrade club.
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) deducted three points from Roda on Wednesday because of ‘changes in the structure of the club’.
The Roda number 9 previously played on loan at Barnsley, MK Dons and Scunthorpe United.
BELGIUM
Dennis scored 3rd league goal
Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure completed an amazing week when he scored his 3rd league goal of the season to lead Club Brugge to an amazing 4-0 over rivals Genk.
Fresh from scoring a famous brace in the Champions League against Real Madrid last Tuesday, the 21-year-old was handed his 6th league start of the season as the hosts hoped to stretch their unbeaten league run to nine games.
They, however, took the lead on the 11th minute when captain Hans Vanaken scored to make it 1-0 before Krepin Diatta doubled their lead on 28 minutes with Brugge heading into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Dennis then increased his side’s tally six minutes into the second half when he dispossessed Igor Plastun of the ball before recovering from a near fall to fire home his third goal in the space of four days.
The winger then made way for compatriot David Okereke before on-loan Galatasaray striker Mbaye Diagne completed the scoring with a cool finish on the dot of 90 minutes.
The win sees Brugge maintain their stronghold on the log with 23 points.
DENMARK
Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg FB): He lasted the distance when his team suffered a 1-2 loss at home to SonderjyskE.
Ayo Simon Okosun (AC Horsens): The youngster was cautioned in the 9th min and was on for the entirety of his team’s 0-3 loss at OB Odense.
Marvin Egho (Randers FC): He was cautioned in the 6th min and was substituted in the 67th min of his club’s 2-0 defeat of AGF.
Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland): The midfielder was cautioned in the 45thmin and was replaced in the 59th min of his club’s 2-1 win at Silkeborg.
SWEDEN
Michael Omoh (Mjallby AIF): He hit target in the 85th min to give his team a 3-1 lead in a Swedish Superettan clash against Oster. It was his second goal for the club he joined in the summer transfer window.
HUNGARY
Tunde Adeniji (Debrecen): The former Sunshine Stars forward scored in the 29th min but his goal counted for nothing as his team lost 1-2 to Fehérvár.
BULGARIA
Eze scores brace for Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Stephen Eze was the hero for Lokomotiv Plovdiv as he scored twice to help them to a comprehensive 5-0 bashing of Etar Veliko Tarnovo.
The former Kano Pillars centre-back started his 12th consecutive league game for the hosts as they went in search of their 8th win of the campaign.
It took Lokomotiv just four minutes to register their intentions in the match when Alen Ožbolt put them ahead for 1-0 before a brace from Dimitar Iliev on the 38th and 45th minutes gave the visitors a resounding 3-0 half time lead.
Eze then got into the scorers’ chart on the 71st minute as he headed home from a Parvizdzhon Umarbaev cross for 4-0 before getting his brace and third of the season on the 88th minute to seal all three points for the visitors.
The win now sees Lokomotiv move up to 3rd on the log with 26 points, one behind leaders Ludogorets who have played a game less.
USA
Ferdinand pays tribute to Promise
Former English defender Anton Ferdinand has paid tribute to late Nigerian striker Isaac Promise who died on Wednesday.
Ferdinand and Promise shared the same locker room and hotel room during to their time with Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand took to his social media handle to pay tribute to the former Trabzonspor attacker.
“I’m in shock,” he wrote on Instagram. “You were my roommate at Antalyaspor. RIP Isaac Promise. Rest well bro my prayers are with your family and friends at this time.”
Promise died at the age of 31, his, American club Austin Bold said, but failed to reveal the cause.
Promise was the captain of Nigerian U-20 side that had John Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi and Taye Taiwo.
The team got to the final of 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Netherlands, but they lost to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Promise also led the Nigerian U-23 side 2008 Beijing Olympics games, where they lost to Argentina again.