Nigerians abroad: Orban unstoppable; Lookman, Ajibade, Ighalo excellent in wins
Nigerians abroad: Orban unstoppable; Lookman, Ajibade, Ighalo excellent in wins
It was an exciting day of football across Europe and beyond, with plenty of Nigerian players making their mark on the scoresheet. Here is Soccernet.ng’s roundup of some of the standout performances:
In Armenia, Yusuf Otubanjo was the hero for Pyunik, grabbing a brace to lead his side to a commanding 3-0 victory over BKMA. The Ijebu Ode-born striker was in scintillating form, showing off his clinical finishing to put the game out of reach for the visitors.
Over in Belgium, Gift Orban was the star of the show for KAA Gent, scoring two goals and providing an assist in a resounding 5-0 victory over Seraing. The young attacker was in top form, slicing through the opposition defence with ease and showing off his creative skills.
In the Czech Republic, Igoh Ogbu helped Slavia Prague keep a clean sheet as they cruised to a comfortable 4-0 home win over Dele Israel and Sigma Olomouc. The defender was rock-solid at the back, shutting down any potential threats and keeping the opposition at bay.
In England, Semi Ajayi put in a strong defensive performance for West Brom, helping his side secure a hard-fought draw at home. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Dennis impressed for Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw with Wolves, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi featured in a disappointing defeat for Leicester City against Crystal Palace.
In Hungary, Meshack Izuchukwu Ubochioma found the back of the net for Zalaegerszegi TE, but it wasn’t enough as Vincent Onovo and Ujpest came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 encounter.
Over in Italy, Ademola Lookman ended his barren streak for Atalanta, coming off the bench to score his 13th Serie A goal of the season and seal a 3-1 victory over Cremonese.
In Portugal, Christy Ucheibe was celebrating after helping SL Benfica secure their third consecutive Taca de Liga title with a 3-1 win over Braga.
At the same time, Friday Etim came off the bench to score a crucial goal for Vizela in their 3-1 win over Saviour Godwin’s Casa Pia.
In Russia, Chinonyerem Macleans was in fine form for Lokomotiv Moscow, netting a late winner against Rostov to continue her impressive start to the season.
In Saudi Arabia, Odion Ighalo was the standout performer for Al Hilal, scoring a well-taken brace to guide his side to a comfortable 2-0 win over Al Khaleej.
In Serbia, Geoffrey Chinedu came off the bench to score a crucial equalizer for FK Radnicki in their 2-2 draw with Spartak Subotica.
In Spain, Gift Monday was the provider for UDG Tenerife, setting up the winning goal in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal. Meanwhile, Toni Payne was on the winning side for Sevilla, while Osinachi Ohale endured a difficult defeat against Deportivo Alaves. Finally, Rasheedat Ajibade was among the goals once again for Atletico Madrid, scoring her fourth goal in five league games in a resounding 6-2 win over Valencia.
And in Turkey, Kenneth Obinna Mamah was on target for Goztepe in their 2-0 victory over Denizlispor in the 1 Lig, while David Akintola and Henry Onyekuru were both withdrawn before Adana Demirspor suffered a 2-0 defeat against Galatasaray in the Super Lig.