Iwobi nets 2nd Everton goal, Simy, Abraham on the double

Ahead of the international break, Nigerian players were in riotous form as they provided the goals and assists to help their teams secure victory or draw at the weekend.
In the English Premiership, Nigerian-born, England U-21 striker, Tammy Abraham, scored twice as Chelsea was held to a 2-2 draw by newcomers, Sheffield Utd. Also in the Italian lower division, leggy forward, Simy Nwankwo hit a brace to help Crotone secure its first league win of the current campaign.
In France, Simon Moses provided an assist to help his team to a slim win over a resilient Montpellier side.
In yet another comprehensive report, the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN explores three continents; Europe, Asia and Africa to report the performances of Super Eagles players and prospects.

ENGLAND
Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea): Abraham netted a brace as The Blues surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Sheffield United.
Abraham smashed the ball in after his initial header was stopped by the goalkeeper in the 19th min and he made it 2-0 in the 43rd min.
Abraham was in action for 84 mins while his teammate, Tomori lasted the distance for the Europa League holders.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Having missed the last two games in all competitions due to a hamstring problem, Ndidi returned to the starting line-up and lasted 90 mins while his teammate, Iheanacho was not listed as their club secured a 3-1 win against Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium.
Leon Balogun (Brighton): The big defender was not in action when Manchester City ran riot (4-0) over his team.
Isaac Success and Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford): Success played the last 19 mins while Dele-Bashiru was missing as their club and Newcastle Utd shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park.
Alex Iwobi (Everton): The former Arsenal man scored yet another goal in the 16th min as the Toffees thrashed 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Lampard names Abraham Chelsea’s best against Sheffield Utd 
Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard has identified Tammy Abraham as Chelsea’s most outstanding player in their 2-2 draw with Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.
The England U-21 star took his tally for the season to four goals after netting a first half brace against the Blades and would have bagged a hat-trick in the second half if not for a fine save by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Seven minutes to the end of the game at Stamford Bridge, Lampard made a double change, with Billy Gilmour coming on for Mateo Kovacic while Michy Batshuayi replaced Abraham.
Asked about his decision to make the two changes, Lampard told Chelsea’s official website: ”It was not bold because it was one for one in both positions. Kovacic was on his haunches and blatantly tired. Billy Gilmour is a midfield player who I had on the bench.
”And Michy was to bring some energy where Tammy had been our best player in the game clearly.
”Other people can make what they want with that but I wasn’t being clever at 2-1, I was trying to see the game out”.
Another strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break would see Abraham equal his best tally in a single season in the Premier League, which he set in the 2017-2018 season at Swansea City.
… rates Tomori high 
Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard has said Fikayo Tomori was deserving of his first start for the club.
The 21-year-old was named in Lampard’s team for the 2-2 draw against Sheffield United as he was preferred to Andreas Christensen to partner Kurt Zouma in the centre of defence.
Lampard is a huge admirer of the England U-21 international, having had him on loan at Derby last season, and the manager has described Tomori’s first Chelsea appearance for three years as deserving.
“I think Tomori played very well for me last year and is training at a very high level, Lampard said.
“There is competition at centre-back, he deserved to play and I thought he played well. It was just a choice.”
Nwakali agrees to quit Emirates 
Arsenal midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali has agreed a deal to leave Emirates for Spanish club, SD Huesca.
According to Nwakali’s agent and elder brother, Allwell Nwakali, the Nigerian international is expected to complete a transfer deadline day move to Huesca.
“Kelechi is joining a new club, SD Huesca in Spain. We are terminating his contract with Arsenal,” Allwell Nwakali told allnigeriasoccer.
“We are preparing his visa to go to Spain but everything is okay. He has agreed to move there.
“SD Huesca just went on relegation and they are doing everything possible to return to La Liga.”
Nwakali is still under contract with Arsenal until June 2021.
The 21-year-old has not been granted a work permit by the English Football Association (EFA) to play in the Premier League, since he signed for the Gunners in 2016.
CHAMPIONSHIP 
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): The diminutive midfielder went the distance as his team suffered a 2-1 loss at Birmingham City.
Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday) & Eberechi Eze (QPR): Iorfa lasted the duration of his club’s 1-2 loss to QPR for whom Eze was substituted in the 83rd min.
Sammy Ameobi (Nottingham Forest): The midfielder was substituted in the 77th min of his team’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End.
SCOTLAND
Joe Aribo and Seyi Ojo (Rangers): Aribo was substituted after 70 mins while Ojo was introduced in the 46th min of their club’s 0-2 loss at home to Celtic.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes): The diminutive forward’s late assist gave his club consecutive victory, this time a 1-0 win over Montpellier. With six minutes of regulation time left, Simon broke the visitors’ resistance after finding his way down the flanks to set up French midfielder Abdoulaye Toure, who then beat a marker to find the back of the net. Moses, who was on for the entire match duration, completed 79 per cent of his passes, making five key passes and also blocking one goal-bound effort.
ITALY (DIV 2)
Simy’s brace lifts Crotone to first win
Super Eagles forward, Simy Nwankwo opened his league account on a good note as he scored twice in quick succession to lift Crotone to a 2-1 win away at Spezia.
Having fired blanks in his opening league game at home to Cosenza, the 27-year-old led the line for the visitors as they went in search of their first win of the season.
After a cagey opening 20 mins, the visitors went ahead on the 24th minute when the ever-present Simy scored from 12 yards to give Crotone a 1-0 lead.
Simy then doubled his side’s lead five minutes later as he finished off an assist from Junior Messias before the hosts pulled one back just before the half time whistle via the boots of Federico Ricci as Crotone went into the break 2-1 up.
Both teams, however, failed to replicate their first-half performance with Crotone holding on to claim their first three points of the season.
GERMANY 
DIV 2
Xavier Amaechi (Hamburg): He was a non-playing substitute when his team defeated Hannover 96, 3-0.
TURKEY
Ebuka pens Denizlispor deal 
Denizlispor Kulubu has reportedly completed the signing of Michael Ebuka on a four-year deal.
The 19-year-old was said to have signed the deal after successfully passing medical at the club earlier this week.
Ebuka will represent the Horozlar’s until the summer of the 2023, but they did not state if they will extend his stay at the club if he impresses them during his contract duration.
The midfielder joined Denizlispor this summer for an undisclosed fee from a Lagos based football academy.
Last year, he was said to have gone for trials in Turkey but was unable to impress the coaching crew of both Trabzonspor and Kayserispor.
PORTUGAL (DIV 2)
Onyekachi Silas (Vilafranquense) & Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan (Nacional): Ibrahim lasted the duration of his team’s 2-1 win over Vilafranquense for whom Silas was an unused substitute.
BELGIUM 
Emmanuel Dennis and David Okereke (Club Brugge) & Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey (Genk): Okereke was substituted with six mins left to play while his colleague, Dennis was introduced in the 70th min of the 1-1 draw with Genk for whom Onuachu made his debut in the 90th min and Odey was a non-playing substitute.
Emenike trains with Westerlo 
Former Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Emenike has had a training with Belgian second-tier side Westerlo.
Emenike trained with Westerlo last week as he hopes to revive his professional playing career.
“A new face in the training this morning! KVC Westerlo is in conversation with Emenike. In anticipation of a possible agreement, he is already training with our riders,” Westerlo tweeted.
Emenike had been without a club since leaving Greek side Olympiacos in 2018.
The 32-year-old striker was the top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations won by Nigeria.
He has had stints with Fernabahce, West Ham, Spartak Moscow and Saudi side Al Ain.
SWITZERLAND
FC Zurich to announce Aiyegun signing 
Swiss Super League side, FC Zurich is on the verge of announcing the signing of Latvia-based forward, Tosin Aiyegun.
FK Ventspils owner Adlan Shishhanov said at a press conference after the 1-0 victory over Spartak Jurmala that it was the last game in the team for Aiyegun.
The 21-year-old is the leading scorer in the Latvian Virsliga with 11 goals from 23 starts, including his second half winner at the weekend against Spartak Jurmala.
It is thought that Aiyegun is being signed as a direct replacement for Stephen Odey, who moved to Belgian topflight club Racing Genk in the summer transfer window.
Over the last three seasons, Aiyegun has contributed to 55 goals (35 goals, 20 assists) in 89 matches for FK Ventspils and featured in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.
SWEDEN 
Oke Akpoveta (IK Frej Taeby) & Michale Omoh (Mjaellby): Akpoveta scored his first goal of the season for his team in their 1-2 loss to Mjaellby for whom Omoh went the distance for. The 27-year-old striker opened scoring after for IK Frej Taeby at the Strandvallen (Sölvesborg) on 63 minutes.
A product of Warri Wolves, Akpoveta numbers Brøndby IF, Ravan Baku, Brønshøj BK, AFC Eskilstuna, Helsinborgs IF, Lyngby BK, Sabil, and Dalkurd FF among his former clubs in Europe.
NORWAY 
Flying Eagles winger, Effiom, joins Sandnes Ulf
U-20 international, Maxwell Effiom has joined Norwegian First Division club Sandnes Ulf.
Sandnes Ulf has offered the winger a three-year contract after impressing manager, Bengt Sæternes during trials which lasted for five days.
Although the Norwegian transfer window closes for business on Sunday, The Wolves are expected to unveil the Nigerian anytime from Monday, September 2.
Effiom was a member of the Flying Eagles team to the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, starting all their four matches during the tournament in Poland.
The 19-year-old is joining Sandnes Ulf from domestic league champions, Enyimba.
DENMARK 
Ibrahim Sadiq and Tochi Phil Chukwuani (FC Nordsjaelland): Sadiq was substituted in the 81st min while Chukwuani was a non-playing substitute when their club defeated Hobro 2-1.
Daniel Anyembe (Esbjerg): He lasted the distance when his team suffered a 1-0 defeat at AGF.
Ayo Simon Okosun (AC Horsens): He lasted 90 mins of his team’s 2-1 defeat of Lyngby.
Frank Onyeka and Rilwan Hassan (FC Midtjylland): Onyeka was
cautioned in the 25th min and lasted the duration of his team’s 1-0 defeat of Broendby while his colleague, Hassan, was not listed.
Marvin Egho (Randers): He provided an assist for the first goal in the 31st min and lasted the distance when his team secured a 2-0 win over Silkeborg.
BULGARIA 
Viv Solomon-Otabor (CSKA-Sofia): He was in action for his team in their 2-2 draw at home to Levski Sofia.
Eze scores first goal for Lokomotiv
Super Eagles fringe defender, Stephen Eze scored his first goal of the season to help Lokomotiv Plovdiv avoid defeat at home to city rivals Botev Plovdiv.
The former Kano Pillars defender started his eighth consecutive league game of the campaign as the hosts went in search of their fifth league win of the campaign.
Their hopes were however dashed inside the opening eight minutes when winger Lazer Marin finished off a perfect pass from Fernando Viana to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Eze was then booked halfway into the half as Botev went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The 25-year-old however restored parity for the hosts eight minutes after the break when he headed home a Parvizdzhon Umarbev cross.
Despite throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their guests, Lokomotiv failed to find the winner as both teams settled for a share of the points with the host moving up to 3rd on the log with 14 points.
INDIA 
Sporting club signs Chidi 
Mohammedan Sporting Club has completed the signing of John Chidi. The striker was signed as a replacement for injured Christian Sabah.
CHINA 
Ighalo resumes training with Shenhua
Odion Ighalo is close to a return to action for Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua after resuming full training with his teammates.
Ighalo copped an hamstring injury in his last appearance for Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in July and has not featured for his club since then.
The former Watford striker recently posted a picture of himself working in the gym as he stepped up recovery from the setback.
But he has resumed full training with his teammates and could be set for a return to action anytime soon.
Ighalo has scored seven goals in nine league appearances for Shanghai Shenhua this season.
The 30-year-old retired from international football after AFCON 2019 where he was top scorer with five goals.
TUNISIA 
Esperance signs Atvati
CAF Champions League winner, Esperance has signed 20-year-old right-back, Samuel Atvati to a three-year contract.
Avtati, who can also operate in the midfield and has been training with the Tunisian giants since 2018 was scouted in Gboko, Benue State, during a tournament.
Speaking on the development, Esperance Vice-President, Hechmi Jilani, said, “We have high hopes for this great talent.”
UGANDA 
KCCA signs Odumegwu
KCCA FC has signed John Odumegwu ahead of kickoff of the Uganda Premier League.
The player was seen last week at StarTimes stadium donning KCCA’s training jersey.
To confirm further, during the pre-match press briefing ahead of the FUFA Super Cup game against Proline FC slated for Wednesday, Mutebi hinted on the new signing.
Odumegwu is expected to be a direct replacement of Patrick Henry Kaddu who left KCCA FC for Moroccan outfit, RS Berkane.
The striker will become the second Nigerian player to play for KCCA FC in recent times after midfielder Suleiman Akinyemi who was at the club between 2016-2017.