Nigerians abroad: Yusuf overtakes Tolu in title race; Balogun, Otu promoted; Ucheibe triumphs

Soccernet.ng highlights the most notable performances of Nigerian stars for their respective clubs in Europe on May 7, 2023

Antwerp, led by the impactful substitution of Alhassan Yusuf, surged ahead of KRC Genk to claim the top spot in the First Division A with a remarkable come-from-behind victory of 2-1.

Despite the second-half appearances of Yira Sor and Tolu Arokodare for Genk, their presence failed to ignite a positive outcome for the title contenders.

In the Czech Republic, Igoh Ogbu, a stalwart in defense, showcased his attacking prowess by providing an assist in Slavia Prague’s resounding 6-0 triumph over Bohemians 1905, thereby keeping their aspirations for the title alive.

Slovan Liberec, spearheaded by Victor Olatunji’s early goal in the seventh minute, swiftly established a two-goal lead within the opening ten minutes at České Budějovice.

However, Quadri Adediran netted a crucial goal for the home side, leading them to a thrilling 3-2 victory.

In Denmark, amidst a disappointing performance from Randers, Stephen Odey salvaged some pride by scoring their solitary goal, albeit in a losing effort of 1-3 against Brondby, witnessed by their home supporters.

The trio of Esther Okoronkwo, Regina Otu, and Yewande Balogun played a pivotal role in AS Saint-Etienne’s conquest of the French D2 Feminine, propelling the team to promotion in the French women’s top division.

Although Saint-Etienne suffered a defeat of 2-1 against Montauban, relinquishing their unbeaten record, they managed to maintain a comfortable lead over second-placed Olympique Marseille, who failed to secure a victory against Thonon Évian on their home turf.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie displayed her exceptional skills by delivering another outstanding performance, securing a clean sheet for Paris FC in a goalless draw against their city rivals, PSG.

In a thrilling encounter in Germany, Eintracht Braunschweig, guided by Anthony Ujah’s assist, netted the winning goal in the 89th minute, resulting in a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Sandhausen.

This crucial victory created a five-point gap between Eintracht Braunschweig and the relegation zone, with only three matches remaining in the campaign.

In the Italian Serie A, despite Victor Osimhen missing a penalty, he swiftly redeemed himself by converting Napoli’s second penalty, propelling the newly-crowned champions to a narrow 1-0 victory over Fiorentina at the illustrious Diego Maradona Stadium.

With this remarkable goal, Osimhen surpassed Ballon d’Or winner George Weah as the all-time leading African goal scorer in the history of Serie A, accumulating an impressive tally of 47 goals.

In Norway, Akor Adams, in scintillating form with five goals in his last four league games, found the back of the net once again.

However, his stellar effort was not enough to prevent Lillestrøm from succumbing to a disappointing 1-2 defeat at home against Bodø/Glimt.

In Portugal, Christy Ucheibe played a crucial role in SL Benfica Feminino’s triumphant journey, securing their third consecutive Liga BPI title with a commendable 0-2 victory against Valadares on their opponent’s home ground.

In the Swedish Superettan, Richard Friday emerged as the hero for GAIS Goteborg, slamming home the winning goal in their 2-1 victory over Henry Offia and Trelleborgs at the iconic Gamla Ullevi stadium in Göteborg.

Friday’s decisive strike propelled GAIS Goteborg to a well-deserved league win, showcasing their determination and skill on the field.

In Turkey, Umraniyespor’s hopes of avoiding relegation received a significant boost with the exceptional contributions of Olanrewaju Kayode, who found the back of the net, and Jesse Sekidika, who provided an assist.

Their instrumental roles played a crucial part in Umraniyespor’s commanding 4-1 victory over Sivasspor in a match held at their home ground. The resounding win breathed new life into Umraniyespor’s fight for survival in the league.