Europe Wrap: Bala, Aluko score as Iheanacho, Musa, Ikeme feature

Another weekend of European football saw action in different
leagues in Europe, some Pre-Season games and the beginning of the Premier League.

The stage is set as European football takes center stage as fans are been glued
to their seat to know the outcome of subsequent games in Europe. As the English
Premier League returns along with other leagues across Europe and continental
games we capture Nigerian abroad according to their performance for their performance
for their respective clubs.

On this note we take a look at how Nigerian players
abroad fared across different venues in Europe.

IN ENGLAND

The Premier League opener saw Hull City beat Champions
Leicester City 2-1 as Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa was handed a first start
for Leicester. He lasted the entire duration of the game while Hull City’s
Moses Odubajo was not listed in the match day squad.

Anglo-Nigerian striker Freddie Ladapo was on the bench for
the entire duration of the game to visiting West Bromwich Albion side.

At Goodison Park, Anglo-Nigerian and Everton midfielder Ross
Barkley lasted the entire duration of the game while Tottenham and
Anglo-Nigerian talent Dele Alli was also on for 90 minutes while Tottenham youngster
Joshua Onomah was rooted on the bench for the entire duration of the game as Everton
drew 1-1 with visiting Tottenham Hotspur.

At St. Mary’s Stadium, Odion Ighalo could not find the back
of the net and was replaced with Anglo-Nigerian and Scotland International
winger Ikechi Anya in the 71st minute of the match while Premier
League new boy Isaac Success was surprisingly not listed in Watford match day
squad thus failing to make his Premier League debut as host Southampton drew
1-1 with visiting Watford.

At the Etihad Stadium, Kelechi Iheanacho came on to replace
Gael Clichy at the 80th minutes of the game as he helped Man.City to
a 2-1 win over Sunderland.

ENGLAND-CHAMPIONSHIP

Sone Aluko inspires Fulham 2-1 away win over Preston North End.

Out of favour Super Eagles forward Omatsone Aluko was on
target for Fulham FC in the 33rd minute of the game from Kevin Mc
Donald assist as Fulham defeated host Preston North End 2-1 away from home.
Aluko lasted for the entire duration of the game.

Blackburn and Super Eagles midfielder Hope Akpan was on the
bench for the entire duration of the game as his side Blackburn Rovers lost 3-0
to host Wigan Athletic.

Carl Ikeme was in goal for 90minutes for Wolves while
teammate and Anglo-Nigerian defender Dominic Iorfa lasted the distance as they
defeated Jordan Obita’s Reading FC 2-0.The talented left back (Obita) was
booked in the 88th minute of the game.

ENGLAND-LEAGUE ONE

Talented youngster Ademola Lookman came on at the hour mark
to replace Kevin Foley as his side Charlton Athletic 1-1 with Northampton Town.
Elsewhere Millwall’s Fred Onyedimma came on to replace David Worsall in the 82nd
minute of the game as they held host Milton Keynes Dons (MK Dons) to a 1-1
draw.

   

ITALY (COPPA ITALIA)

Spezia FC David Okereke lasted 67th minutes of
the game and was replaced by Pietro Ceccaroni as Spezia defeated Udinese 2-3 in
the match. Joel Chukwuma Obi was in action for 60minutes for Torino FC and was
replaced by Danielle Baselli as Torino spanked Pro Vercelli 4-1.Pro Vercelli’s
Nigeria forward Osarimen Ebagua came on for Andrea La Mantia in the 63rd
minute of the game.  

IN FRANCE

As expected Vincent Enyeama was in goal for Lille Losc but
could not prevent his side from losing 3-2 to host Metz FC .The Nigerian Legend
was booked in the 67th minute of the game.

IN HOLLAND

Tyronne Ebuehi was rooted to the bench for the entire
duration of the game for ADO Den Haag as they claimed a vital 1-2 away win at
Vitesse Arnhem.

Anglo-Nigerian Kingsley Ehizibue was in action for 63rd
minute for PEC Zwolle as they lost 0-3 to visiting Sparta Rotterdam. Ehizibue
was replaced by Stefan Nijland.   

IN BELGIUM

Nigeria and Gent winger Moses (Daddy) Simon came on to
replace Kenneth Saief in the 71st minute as goals from Gent’s Renato
Neto in the 58th minute and Sporting’s David Pollet in the 70th
minutes ensured that host Sporting Charleroi shared the spoils with Gent at
1-1.

Henry Chukwuemeka Onyekuru scored an 81st minute
winner for Eupen FC as they Westerlo’s 1-2 away from home.

The defender turned midfielder Wilfred (Onyinye) Ndidi
lasted the entire duration of the game at the heart of the Genk’s defence as
host Genk FC drew 2-2 with Waasland-Beveren in the match. 

  

IN SCOTLAND (DIVISION)

Anglo-Nigerian forward Temitope Ayoluwa Obadeyi lasted 63rd
minute of the game and was replaced by Nick Van der Velden as his Dundee United
side lost 1-0 to host Dumbarton FC.

Falkirk FC Tom Taiwo lasted the distance (entire duration of
the game) as his Falkirk FC side lost 1-0 to Greenock Morton.

INTERNATIONAL-CHAMPIONS CUP

Celtic and Nigeria ball playing defender Efe Ambrose came on
at 46th minute of the game to replace Deryck Boyata as Inter Milan defeated
Celtic 2-0 with goals from Eder and Antonio Candreva in the 45th minute in the
45th and 71st minute of the game respectively.  

           

IN DENMARK

Midtjylland duo of Paul Onuachu and Rilwan Hassan were on
the starting eleven for their team. Onuachu lasted the distance in the match
while Hassan was replaced in the 73rd minute of the game by Vaclav Kadlec as FC Koebenhavn defeated the
visiting Midtjylland side 3-1.

IN SWEDEN

AIK and former Super Eagles midfielder Dickson Etuhu was
rooted to the bench for the entire duration of the game while Helsingborg
midfielder Monday Samuel came on at 80th minute to replace Anton
Wede as AIK defeated visiting Helsingborg FC 2-1.

SWEDEN (DIVISION)

Ljungskile FC striker Ahmed Suleiman came on at the 58th
minute to replace Linus Tornblad while Sirius FC forward Derick Moses Ogbu came
on at 58th minute to replace Dragan Kapcevic as Sirius FC claimed a
vital 0-2 away win over host Ljungskile FC side.

IN FINLAND

HIFK’s Nnaemeka Anyamele came on at 40th minute
to replace Tuomas Aho as IIves FC beat HIFK 3-1.

FC Inter Faith Friday Obilor was in action for the entire
duration of the game while teammate Kennedy Ugoala Nwanganga (25) came on to
replace Ari Nyam in the 57th minute of the game as FC Inter lost 3-1
to host PS Kemi.

IN TURKEY

Kenneth Omeruo was not listed in Besiktas match day squad as
both sides drew 1-1 against Turkish rival Galatasaray.

IN SLOVKIA

AS Trencin’s duo of Rabiu Ibrahim (25) and defender
Christopher Udeh (18) was not listed In AS Trencin match day squad while Aliko
Bala and Samuel Kalu started but was substituted in the 71st minute
and 79th minute by compatriot Leonard Chisom Johnson and Erik Mikes
as they claimed a 2-3 away win at host DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda. Aliko Bala
scored the third goal for his side in the 69th minute after good
works and Superb cross from Samuel Kalu on the right wing.

IN RUSSIA

As expected CSKA Moscow forward Aaron Samuel was missing in action
as he is recuperating from Injury. A Late goal from Georgi Milanov at the
90minute gives CSKA Moscow a vital win at host FC Ural.

IN BULGARIA

Tunde Adeniji lasted for 86th minute of the game
as his Levski Sofia side defeated visiting Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0. He was
replaced by Medhi Bourabia with only four minutes of the game to spare.