The performance of Nigerian football stars abroad painted a rather dismal picture over the weekend, as many experienced defeats and struggled to find the back of the net. Paul Onuachu of Southampton faced Liverpool in the English Premier League, where he put in a commendable effort before being substituted after suffering a knock. This marked his sixth Premier League appearance this season, yet he has yet to score. Fellow Nigerian player Joe Aribo also had an eventful match, coming on as a substitute in the first half for an injured teammate, but he too has only managed one goal this season. While Onuachu’s injury adds to Southampton’s woes, the team is still in search of their first victory, contributing to a challenging campaign thus far.
In France, Gabriel Osho made his mark with a clean sheet in Auxerre’s narrow 1-0 victory over Angers. This solid performance followed his recente debut with the Super Eagles, showcasing his potential on the international stage. However, it was not a great day for Moses Simon as Nantes suffered another blow, losing 2-0 at home to Le Havre; Simon, despite his three goals and four assists this season, had no impact on the scoreline and received a booking for a foul during the match. This continued defeat compounds Nantes’ struggles this season, reflecting a worrying trend for the team and its players.
Spanish league action featured Rinsola Babajide, who netted an early goal for Tenerife against Barcelona, but his effort quickly turned sour as they succumbed to a 5-1 loss. While Babajide’s tally increased to three goals for the season, Tenerife remains rooted in the bottom half of the table. In the Netherlands, Chuba Akpom watched from the bench as Ajax secured a 2-0 win against Zwolle, managing only two goals and one assist this season, indicating a slow start in his second year with the team. Meanwhile, defender Igo Ogbu of Sparta Prague played his part in a convincing 4-0 victory over Budejovice, maintaining an eight-point lead at the top of the Czech league table.
The situation was no better for William Troost-Ekong in Saudi Arabia as his team, Al Kholood, suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss against a depleted Damac side, highlighting the struggles of Nigerian defenders abroad. On the weekend preceding that match, a few Nigerian talents had brighter moments, including Calvin Bassey, who had a rough outing in Fulham’s home match against Wolves. However, Alex Iwobi shone brightly by scoring a fantastic goal in the 20th minute despite their eventual 4-1 defeat. Iwobi’s achievement marked his third goal of the season, enhancing his reputation despite the loss, while the defensive performance left much to be desired.
Germany saw Nathan Tella step up as Bayer Leverkusen performed impressively to recover from a two-goal deficit and win 5-2, with Tella contributing an assist. Meanwhile, at the lower levels of German football, Destiny Obiogumu made headlines by scoring a hat-trick for Nürnberg II, showcasing his talents in the Regionalliga. Italy also saw Nigerian talent shine, as Ademola Lookman scored his 14th goal of the season for Atalanta in their 3-1 win against Parma, solidifying his place as a key player in the Serie A. These successes highlight the potential found within younger Nigerian players making strides in their respective leagues.
Across the rest of Europe, Raphael Onyedika and Tolu Arokodare found themselves on the scoresheet in Belgium, contributing to significant victories for their clubs. David Okereke finished the scoring for Gaziantep FK in Turkey, ensuring a comfortable 3-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir. The performances of these players, particularly those in Belgium and Turkey, show the depth of talent existing within the Nigerian football diaspora. Ultimately, while the weekend was filled with mixed results for Nigerian players abroad, those who excelled have displayed their promise, even if many of their compatriots struggled to find form in what appears to be a testing period for many teams and players.
