Dessers hits brace in heavy Heracles win

After the international break which lasted about two weeks, Super
Eagles players and hopefuls returned to action for their respective
clubs in Europe, Asia and across Africa.
For England-born, Nigerian striker, Tammy Abraham, he appeared to be
in the form of his life scoring thrice in Chelsea’s 5-2 whitewash of
Wolverhampton Wanderers. Also on target for the Blues is Fikayo Tomori
who has also represented England at youth level like Abraham.
In the Eredevisie, unsung hero, Cyriel Dessers netted twice to secure
a 4-1 win for his team, Heracles over Willem II.
There were also goals from other parts of Europe from the boots of
former Kwara Football Academy player, Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure,
Chinedu Obasi, Chuba Akpom, Uche Ikpeazu and Norway-based Samuel
Adegbenro as reported by the News Editor, ADEBAYO OLODAN.

ENGLAND
Alex Iwobi (Everton): The former Arsenal man got his first 90 minutes
action for his new club but failed to improve his goal scoring tally
nor help the side avoid a 3-1 defeat away to Bournemouth. Iwobi had a
few attempts on goal, but none really threatened the goalkeeper as the
Toffees suffered a second league defeat and dropped to 11th in the EPL
standings.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City): Ndidi lasted the
duration of the match while Iheanacho was not listed as their club
lost 0-1 to Manchester United.
In his fourth season in English football, Ndidi remains a consistent
feature as a top tackler in the game. The Leicester City midfielder,
so far, this season has made at least 5 tackles per game, earning him
a spot in the top five and only bettered than Manchester United’s
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (5.6) in England.
Leon Balogun (Brighton): The leggy defender was not listed as his team
drew 1-1 with Burnley.
Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori(Chelsea): Abraham scored a perfect
hat-trick while Tomori was also on song as Chelsea massacred
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-2 at the Mollineux Stadium. Tomori opened
scoring in the 31st min while Abraham added the second in the 40th
min, he added another goal in the 55th min.
Abraham is now tied at the top with Sergio Aguero and Robert
Lewandowski, but, Osimhen is the only Ligue 1 player in the top five.
Isaac Success (Watford) & Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Success was not
listed while Saka was an unused substitute when Arsenal and Watford
shared the spoils (2-2).
CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi Ajayi (West Brom): The versatile player’s 80th min header
salvaged a point for his team as they drew 1-1 with Fulham at Craven
Cottage. The goal was Ajayi’s first in seven appearances for the club
he joined in the summer.
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City): The diminutive midfielder was a 63rd
min substitute in his team’s home defeat to Bristol City.
SCOTLAND
Uche Ikpeazu (Hearts): The former U-23 invitee opened his account for
the season but it counted for nothing as his club lost 2-3 at home to
Motherwell.
The lanky forward nodded in the rebound after Meshino’s effort was
saved by the goalkeeper in the 61st minute.
IRELAND
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Dundalk FC): His speculative effort beat the
goalkeeper six minutes into the second half as he team bundled Derry
out of the Ireland Cup 6-5 on penalties.
ITALY
William Troost-Ekong (Udinese): Ekong, who captained the senior
national team during the 2-2 draw against Ukraine in Dnipro last week
was not considered when his team suffered a slim 0-1 lost to league
leaders, Inter Milan.
SPAIN
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal) & Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem
(Leganes): The youngster was an unused substitute as his team ran away
3-0 winners against CD Leganes.
Leganes was without Omeruo but Awaziem made his debut and was on for 90 mins.
Ramon Azeez (Granada): The former U-20 skipper was introduced in the
89th min when his team defeated Celta Vigo 2-0.
GERMANY
Taiwo Awoniyi (Mainz 05): The U-23 forward was a no-playing substitute
when his club defeated Hertha Berlin 2-1. It would be recalled that
the Liverpool-loanee contributed a goal as the National U-23 team
defeated Sudan 5-0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, last week.
FRANCE
Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja (Bordeaux): Kalu followed up his
electrifying performance for the Super Eagles with an impressive
display when his club defeated Metz 2-0.
Though he didn’t score or get an assist, the winger was a thorn in the
side of the opposition defenders.
Kalu had three attempts on target in the game, completed two dribbles,
only one player did more. His compatriot, Maja, who got his first
Eagles cap against Ukraine, came on in the 75th min and was the
biggest impact substitute on both sides.
Victor Osimhen (Lille): He sent the Stade Pierre Mauroy crowd wild
when he scored his side’s opening goal against Angers in his team’s
2-1 win. It took his tally to five in as many games.
Henry Onyekuru (AS Monaco): The former Everton forward was an unused
substitute when his team suffered a 3-4 loss at home to Marseille.
Moses Simon (Nantes): He was in the thick of action and was
substituted in the 89th min of his team’s 1-0 defeat of Reims.
RUSSIA
Brian Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow): He was a non-playing substitute when
his team secured an away win at Sochi. Idowu has played three out
Locomotiv’s nine league games this season.
HOLLAND
Cyriel Dessers (Heracles): The striker scored twice in his club’s 4-1
thumping of Willem II . His goals came in the 17th and 42nd min of the
match. Dessers either scored the equalizer or put his team ahead with
nine of his last 12 Eredivisie goals.
BELGIUM
Stephen Odey and Paul Onuachu (Genk): Onuachu scored in the 61st min
when his team suffered a 1-2 loss to Sporting Charleroi even as his
teammate, Odey was not listed for the encounter.
David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge): Dennis scored his
club’s second goal in the 61st min and was replaced in the 87th min of
the 2-0 win over Cercle Brugge. His compatriot, Okereke was
substituted in the 46th min of the match.
Abdul Ajagun and Imoh Ezekiel (Kortrijk): Former U-20 skipper, Ajagun
was substituted in the 63rd min while Ezekiel was a non playing
substitute when their club earned a 2-0 win at Royal Mouscron.
TURKEY
Kayode Olanrewaju (Gaziantep FK): The Super Eagles fringe striker was
sent off in the 75th min as his team won 3-2 against Besiktas.
Onazi set to return to action
Super Eagles midfielder has recovered fully from the lengthy injury he
suffered last season and will soon return to action for Trabzonspor.
The 26-year-old missed some of the matches of his team last season and
the 2019 African Nations Cup due to an Achilles injury he suffered
last December.
GREECE
Chuba Akpom and Anderson Esiti (PAOK): The former Arsenal striker,
Akpom opened scoring for his team in the 17th min as they earned a 3-2
win against Atromitos at Stadio Peristeriou. It was his second goal in
as many games in the Greek Super League. Esiti was also in action but
was replaced in the 61st minute.
DENMARK
Samson Iyede Onomigho (BK Fremad Amager): He was on target in the 13th
min of his team’s 2-1 loss to Viborg in the First Division.
SWEDEN
Chinedu Obasi (AIK Solna) & Godswill Ekpolo (Haecken): Former Super
Eagles forward, Obasi was on the target in the 26th min and was
substituted 60 mins later as his team earned a 2-1 win at Haecken for
whom Ekpole was also replaced in the 86th min.
NORWAY
Samuel Adegbenro (Rosenborg) & Ifeanyi Matthew (Lillestrom): He struck
after 53 mins to help his team register a 3-1 win against Lillestrom
for whom Ifeanyi lasted the duration of the match.
Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare (Valmiera FK): The 18-year-old striker
would be disappointed to see his team concede in the fourth minute of
stoppage time in their 2-2 draw with BFC Daugavpils. The teenager
scored his second of the season in the 65th minute before he was
replaced on 88 minutes.
CROATIA
Musa Muhammed (NHK Gorica): The former Golden Eaglets skipper played
all 90 mins as his club drew 0-0 with NK Lokomotiva.
FINLAND
Taye Taiwo (RoPS): The former Marseille and AC Milan left-back lasted
the duration of his team’s 0-3 defeat against Lahti.
KAZAKHSTAN
Odibe makes Team of the Season
Super Eagles fringe player, Michael Odibe seems to be enjoying new
lease of life in Kazakhstan after the defender was listed in the
Kazakhstan Premier League X1 of the Season.
The defender, who once played in the Italian Serie A and was capped
once by the Super Eagles have been plying his trade in obscure leagues
of late and he will hope to secure a move to a prominent league with
his recent form.
Odibe who is a tough tackler will also hope to gain the attention of
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr ahead of the 2022 World Cup..
CHINA
Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua): The former Super Eagles striker
returned from a two-month injury layoff but his team suffered a 0-3
loss at home to Tianjin Teda.
Ighalo came off the bench in the 55th min for Stephan El-Shaarawy,
with his side trailing three nil. The forward has 7 league goals from
10 appearances for Shanghai Shenhua this season, but has already
missed 15 games – the club currently five points from safety.
SOUTH AFRICA
Akpeyi turns scapegoat as Kaizer Chiefs falter at home
Kaizer Chiefs’ unbeaten start to the 2019/20 PSL season came to a
screeching halt as Amakhosi lost 1-0 at home to Polokwane City on
Saturday.
Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was adjudged to have upended an opponent
inside the box, despite replays showing the Nigerian got a touch on
the ball first.
The center referee pointed to the spot and on this occasion, the
former Warri Wolves shot stopper couldn’t keep out the kick as
Polokwane’s Jabulani Maluleke converted.
It would prove the decider, but many Kaizer Chiefs fans weren’t
letting the Nigerian off the hook.
Akpeyi returned between the sticks for Ernst Middendorp’s men with
Bruce Bvuma injured and Itumeleng Khune back from a long term injury
His presence on the bench irked Chiefs fans, who would prefer to see
the South African back between the sticks.
“We keep conceding stupid goals because of this Akpeyi,” a fan, Kwenza
Miya @kwenza_miya wrote.
“Akpeyi & Kambole must be sold with immediate effect,” another fan,
NewLife @ZuluJoziGuy, opined.
“Why even keep a keeper who lets in a goal each game with that
defense? Akpeyi can’t organize his defense and can’t even initiate
attacks. A fully fit Khune would win you half the season’s games,”
Makhathini stated.