Last weekend appeared the most productive so far for Nigerian players
abroad with over 20 goals scored across various leagues in Europe.
In Norway, Leke James scored twice for IFK Molde just as his teammate;
Ohi Omoijuanfo added another goal to ensure victory for their side.
Similarly, Joel Asoro and Chiderah Ejuke both scored a brace each for
their Dutch clubs.
Interestingly, the most outstanding performance of the weekend came
from an uncelebrated Cyriel Dessers who aside contributing a hat-trick
for Heracles also had two assists to his name in a comprehensive 6-1
win over VVV-Venlo.
The News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN, yet again tours Europe and Asia to
serve you reports on the performances of Super Eagles players and
hopefuls.
ENGLAND
Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion): The leggy defender was yet
again confined to the substitutesโ bench when his team suffered a 1-3
loss against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Alex Iwobi (Everton): The former Arsenal winger came off the bench for
Theo Walcott after 74 mins to help the Toffees to a 2-1 win over
Southampton at the St Mary Stadium.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho & Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Ndidi
lasted the distance while former Golden Eaglets forward, Iheanacho was
not listed as Leicester ran out 2-0 victors against the Gunners for
whom Saka was an unused substitute.
Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea): The central defender lasted the duration of
his teamโs 2-0 defeat of Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
SCOTLAND
Uche Ikpeazu (Hearts) & Jonathan Obika (St. Mirren):ย Obika drew his
team level in the 21st min while Ikpeazu was substituted after 80 mins
of Heartsโ 5-2 defeat of St. Mirren.
Hakeem Odoffin (Livingston) & Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo (Rangers): Aribo
scored the opening goal in the 32nd min while Ojo was introduced in
the 58th min in their clubโs 2-0 defeat of Livingston for whom Odoffin
lasted 59mins before being substituted.
SPAIN
Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem (Leganes): Omeruo lasted the
duration and was cautioned in the 86th min of the 1-1 draw with Real
Sociedad while his teammate, Awaziem was a non-playing substitute.
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal): The youngster was introduced in the
46th min when his team suffered a 1-3 loss at Real Mallorca.
Ramon Azeez (Granada): The diminutive midfielder was substituted in
the 77th min of the 2-0 away loss to Valencia.
DIV 2
James Igbekeme (Real Zaragoza): The flying winger was cautioned in the
44th min and was substituted in the 60th min of his teamโs 1-1 draw at
Almeria.
GERMANY
Karim Onisiwo and Taiwo Awoniyi (Mainz 05) & Anthony Ujah and
Abdullahi Suleiman (FC Union Berlin): Onisiwo played the last 30 mins
and scored his teamโs first goal in the 81st min while his colleague,
Awoniyi was not listed when their club suffered a 2-3 loss at home to
FC Union Berlin. On the opposingย side, Ujah was introduced with 2mins
left to play while Suleiman was not listed for the match.
Jamilu Collins (SC Padderborn): The left-back lasted the duration of
his clubโs 1-0 home loss to Augsburg.
HOLLAND
Joel Asoro (FC Groningen): He scored two goals in the 13th and 31st
min and was substituted in the 89th min of his teamโs 2-1 away win at
Vitesse.
Cyriel Dessers (Heracles): The in-form striker scored a hat-trick and
provided two assists to emerge the Most Valuable Player (MVP) when his
team thrashed VVV-Venlo 6-1. His goals were scored in the 56th, 64th
and 82nd min while his assists came in the 5th and 60th min of the
match. Dessers has contributed 8 goals and 4 assists so far in
Eredivisie.
Only Ajaxโs Dusan Tadic (16) has contributed to more league goals than
Dessers (12) in the Eredivisie this season.
Chidera Ejuke (Heerenven): He bagged a brace in the 73rd and 79th min
when his club defeated Sparta Rotterdam 2-1. The 21-year-old has now
scored six goals in 13 league appearances for his club this season.
FRANCE
Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja (Bordeaux): The duo played substitute roles
when their club earned a 1-1 draw against Nice with Kalu playing the
last 20 mins of the match and Maja, an 83rd minute entrant.
Victor Osimhen (Lille): The in-form striker fired blank for 90 mins as
his team played out a goalless draw against Metz.
Henry Onyekuru (AS Monaco): The former Eupen forward was an unused
substitute during his teamโs 1-0 home win against Dijon.
Moses Simon (Nantes): He struggled for form despite lasting 90 mins
when his team suffered a 2-3 loss at home to St. Etienne.
ITALY
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): The central defender lasted the
duration of his teamโs goalless draw at home to SPAL.
Ola Aina (Torino): He was a Trojan from the right wing back position
in his teamโs 4-0 away trouncing of Brescia.
SERIE B
Kingsley Michael (Cremonese): He was in action when his team defeated
Salernitania by the odd goal (1-0).
Simy Nwankwo (Crotone): He scored one and set up another when his team
secured a 3-1 win over Ascoli. Having been named Serie B Player of the
Month for October, the 27-year-old led the line for the hosts and set
up Giovanni Crociata in the 6th min for the match opener. Both players
then combined again after the hour mark to double Crotoneโs lead but
this time it was Simy who finished off the move after he was played
through by Crociata.
Simy was on for the entire match duration and had a game rating of
8.1, completing 84% of his passes as the result moves Crotone back to
second on the log with 21 points from 12 games played so far.
PORTUGAL
Mikel Agu (Victoria Guimares): The combative midfielder was not
included in the match day squad when his club suffered a 0-2 reverse
at home to SC Braga.
DIV 2
Abdullahi Alhassan Ibrahim (Nacional): The former U-20 forward was on
for the entirety of his teamโs 1-0 defeat of Sporting Covilha.
GREECE
Gboly Ariyibi (Panetolikos): He drew his team level (2-2) in the 81st
min and lasted the duration of his clubโs 2-3 loss at Volos Nps.
Brown Ideye (Aris Thessaloniki): The estranged Super Eagles forward
put in a full shift and was cautioned in the 82nd min of his teamโs
2-1 defeat of Asteras Tripolis.
Chuba Akpom and Anderson Esiti (PAOK Thessaloniki): Former Arsenal
starlet, Akpom was introduced in the 73rd min while his teammate,
Esiti played a cameo role as he was introduced in the 87th min of
their clubโs 1-0 win at OFI Crete.
BELGIUM
David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge): Okereke was
substituted in the 62nd min while his compatriot, Dennis was a 55th
min entrant when their team suffered a 1-2 loss at Royal Antwerp.
Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey (Genk): Former FC Midtjylland striker,
Onuachu was substituted in the 72nd min while his teammate, Odey was a
non-playing substitute when their club crashed 0-2 at home to Gent.
TURKEY
Azubuike Okechukwu (Basaksehir): The former U-23 skipper lasted the
distance in his teamโs 2-1 defeat of Ankaragucu.
Anthony Nwaekeme, Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor): Super
Eagles fringe forward, Nwaekeme lasted 90 mins when his team secured a
slim 1-0 win over Alanyaspor and was cautioned in regulation time. His
compatriots, Mikel and Onazi were not listed for the match.
Olanrewaju Kayode (Gaziantep): The former Manchester City forward
could not prevent his team from losing 2-0 at home to Galatasaray
despite lasting 83 mins in the encounter.
Aminu Umar (Rizespor): The former U-23 striker lasted 67mins when his
club defeated Antalyaspor 1-0.
DENMARK
Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland): He lasted the distance and was issued a
Yellow Card in the 72nd min of his teamโs 4- 1 defeat of FC
Copenhagen.
Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg FB): The ever present defender lasted 90mins
of his teamโs 1-2 reverse at Broendby IF.
Ayo Simon Okosun (AC Horsens): He logged 90 mins when his team earned
a 2-1 victory over Silkeborg.
Ibrahim Sadiq (FC Nordsjaelland): Scored in the 89th min after his
introductionย in the 72nd min of his clubโs 2-2 draw at Hobro.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague): He won the penalty that led to his
teamโs first team and lasted the duration of his clubโs 3-0 defeat of
Teplice
SERBIA
Umar Sadiq (Partizan Belgrade): The former U-23 forward assisted the
opener for his team in their 3-0 defeat of FK Indija and was
substituted in the 76th min.
CROATIA
Iyayi Atiemwen (Dinamo Zagreb): He was introduced in the 77th min of
his teamโsย ย 5-0 away thrashing of Rijeka.
Samuel Eduok (Hadjuk Split): He was on song in the 41st min and was
cautioned in the 33rd min of his clubโs 3-2 defeat of NK Osijek.
NORWAY
Ifeanyi Mathew (Lillestroem): The midfielder played for the entirety
of his teamโs 1-3 loss to Stabaek.
Leke James and Ohi Omoijuanfo (Molde FK): The striker scored twice in
the 74th and 81st min of his teamโs 4-0 defeat of Stroemsgodset. James
was cautioned in the 48th min just as his teammate, Omoijuanfo who
also lasted 90 mins scored the match opener in the 19th min.
Sam Adekugbe (Vaalerenga): He went the distance but his team could
only earn a point following their goalless draw against Tromsoe.
Samuel Adegbenro and Babajide David Akintola (Rosenborg BK): Former
Kwara Utd forward, Adegbenro lasted 90 mins while his compatriot,
Akintola was an unused substitute when their club played a 2-2 draw
against Bodoe/Glimt.
DIV 2
Igoh Ogbuh (Sogndal IL): He played for 46 mins when his team suffered
a 0-1 reverse at KFUM Oslo.
SWEDEN
Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF): He put in an impressive display when his
club secured a 2-0 win over IFK Vaemano.
ISRAEL
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Hadera): The former Super Eagles goalkeeper kept
a clean sheet when his team drew 0-0 at Hapoel Kfar Saba FC.
AUSTRIA
Kelvin Arase (Rapid Wien): The 20-year-old forward scored the 3rd goal
in the 35th min of his teamโs 3-0 away win at Altach.
Bright Edomwonyi (Austria Wien) & Victor Olatunji (Mattersburg): He
scored his teamโs second goal and winner, a min after his introduction
in the 88th min of the clubโs 2-1 defeat of Mattersburg for whom
Olatunji was introduced in the 84th min.
SWITZERLAND
Tosin Ayegun (FC Zurich): He was impressive when his club defeated FC Sion 4-2.
Sebastian Osigwe (FC Kriens): The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet when
his club earned a 3-0 home victory over Stade Ls Ouchy.
BULGARIA
Solomon Viv-Otabor (CSKA Sofia): The Super Eagles invitee featured
prominently in his teamโs 1-0 defeat of Slavia Sofia.
SOUTH KOREA
Egbuchulam named Suwon FC Player of the Season
Chisom Egbuchulam signed off the Korean League 2 in style after he was
named the Suwon FC Player of the Season.
The 27-year-old joined the club on a free transfer from Swedish side
Falkenbergs and was an instant hit in Korea after taking the league by
storm, a feat which has now seen him named the clubโs best player of
the season.
The former Enugu Rangers star also emerged as the leading goal scorer
for the campaign after netting 18 goals in 30 games to help them beat
the drop in the countryโs second-tier league.
Suwon FC, however, failed to gain promotion to the elite league after
they finished in a disappointing 8th position with 43 points from 36
league outings.
This will be the second straight season the Nigerian will emerge as
both highest goal scorer and best player after also winning the same
award last season whilst at Swedish club Falkenbergs FF.
Egbuchulam could now consider a return to Europe in January with his
contract at FC Suwon expected to expire at the end of the year.
