Nigerians abroad: Nwankwo scores first Serie A goal in two years; Iwobi, Ajibade, Boniface, Akinbule, Okwuosa impress

Soccernet.ng highlights some eye-catching displays from Nigerian footballers outside the country’s shores on Sunday, December 10, 2023.

In the Premier League, Alex Iwobi assisted the second goal while Tosin Adarabioyo headed home the third as Fulham smashed a 5-0 win past West Ham United at Craven Cottage.

Calvin Bassey kept up his impressive display at the heart of the defence for the Cottagers as they kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since September.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored for the fifth straight game for club and country to guide Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 away win at Real Betis in the Primera Division Femenina.

Simy Nwankwo scored his first Serie A goal since October 2021 after he came off the bench for Salernitana in their 2-1 loss at home to Bologna.

Nwankwo was Nigeria’s most prolific goalscorer in Serie A history until Napoli’s Victor Osimhen broke his record last season.

In the German Bundesliga, Victor Boniface came to the rescue of Bayer Leverkusen as he assisted the club’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Vfb Stuttgart.

Terem Moffi was in action for OGC Nice as they carved out a tough 2-1 home win over Reims in the French Ligue 1.

At the Stade Yves Allainmat – Le Moustoir, Bonke Innocent returned to the starting lineup for Lorient, but it was to end in no joy as a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double lifted Marseille to a 4-2 win.

In the Albanian 1st Division, Peter Itodo’s opener for Luzi 2008 ended up being a consolation strike as their hosts Bylis fought back to claim a 3 – 1 win.

Elsewhere, James Ayinde was among the goals as Lushnja strolled to a convincing 2 – 0 victory against Burreli.

In the Azerbaijani Premyer Liqa, Port Harcourt-born Jesse Sekidika netted his second goal in three games to lift Sabah to a commanding 4 – 0 win over Səbail.

In the same division, Otto John found the net in the second half to make it two-all for Turan, but Aaron Olanare entered the fray to net the winner for Neftchi Baku at the Neftçi Arena in Bakı.

After their loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Cup, Taofeek Ismaeel helped SK Beveren return to winning ways as he scored his side’s opener in a 2-0 away win over KV Oostende in the Challenger Pro League.

In the First Division A, Yira Sor broke the deadlock while Tolu Arokodare wrapped up the scoring as Genk forced a 3-1 defeat down the throat of AS Eupen at the Kehrwegstadion.

In the First Amateur Division, exciting teenager Ahmed Abdullai scored twice for KAA Gent II – including a stoppage-time penalty, but it was not enough as they fell to a tough 2-3 loss at home to Hoogstraten.

In Cyprus, Francis Uzoho made his first league appearance of the season and kept a clean sheet as Omonua Nicosia triumphed 2-0 over Nea Salamis.

Compatriot Akinkunmi Amoo did not make it off the bench in the encounter as the former Golden Eaglets starlet continues to hope for his club debut.

In Malaysia, James Okwuosa opened the floodgates of goals with the first of his side’s haul in PDRM’s crushing 7 – 2 win over Kelantan.

Sunday Akinbule made it seven goals in ten games as Marsaxlokk powered to a commanding 3 – 0 victory against Santa Lucia in the Maltese Premier League.

In Portugal’s Primeira Liga, Bruno Onyemaechi was on the losing side as Boavista stumbled to a 3-1 loss at Estrela.

The night did not also end well for Kelechi Nwakali as his Chaves were outplayed and outfought before crashing to a 4-0 defeat to Estoril.

In Turkey, Paul Onuachu and Trabzonspor showed no mercy to Gaziantep FK as they made their hosts bite the dust in a match that ended in a 3-1 victory for the visitors.