Nigeria Players Abroad: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly over the weekend

Nigeria players were involved in matches across Europe as the football season kicks off after the summer break.

From the English Championship to the Croatian First League, players of Nigeria descent painted the weekend red with goals.

It was mixed fortunes however as some did not get game time with their clubs while others were on the losing side.

It’s time to take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Samuel Eduok, Hadjuk Split 3 – 0 NK Lokomotiva

The newly acquired signing continued his impressive form by grabbing his second goal in as many games as H Split tore their opponents apart in the Croatia First League match played over the weekend.

43 GOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
Samuel Emem Eduok! #Hajduk – Lokomotiva 2:0!#AjmoBijeliAle #HajLok pic.twitter.com/Yo0jnm3wV3

— HNK Hajduk Split (@hajduk) August 4, 2019

The 25-year-old forward, who picked up the the third and final goal in Hadjuk Split’s comprehensive victory last week, was on hand to extend his side’s lead in this game three minutes after M, Caktas had given Split a 40th minute lead.

https://www.twitter.com/Grillote4/status/1158074033016938496

A further strike off the boot of D. Nejasmic in the second half sealed the victory.

Eduok was withdrawn with nine minutes left of regulation time.

David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis, Club Brugge 6 – 0 St. Truiden

Brugge’s newest Nigeria-import from Spezia continued his hot-streak by grabbing a brace as the ten-man hosts taught St Truidense a harsh lesson in attacking football.

15' GOAAAL Okereke! 2 matchen, 2 goals #CluStvv pic.twitter.com/oGE9LrYLN8

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) August 2, 2019

Okereke, who scored and assisted another in his first game last time, was the first off the block, banging in the game’s first two goals within the first 20 minutes.

4 – David Okereke has been directly involved in four goals in his first two official games for Club Brugge, scoring three and assisting one. Impact. #ClubFacts pic.twitter.com/yDKseHlwPG

— Club Brugge English (@ClubBrugge_en) August 4, 2019

Another Nigerian forward Emmanuel Dennis scored his only goal and Brugge’s fifth in the 72nd minute only to be substituted three minutes later.

South Africa’s Percy Tau, Hans Vanaken and Sieve Schrijvers were Brugge’s other goal scorers.

Lois Openda earned himself a late red card but by that time, the game had been won and lost.

Eberechi Eze, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Olamide Shodipo: Stoke City 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers

Three Nigeria-born players were on the winning side in a game which Stoke did not have Super Eagles star Peter Etebo on the field or on the bench to call on.

Nigeria-English forward struck the game’s second goal seven minutes into the second half to extend the R’s lead after J. Hugill had given coach Warburt’s side a first half lead.

Eberechi Eze played the full 90 minutes but Bright Osayi-Samuel made way for another Nigeria-born Irish winger Olamide Shodipo with twenty minutes of play left.

Stoke’s consolation goal arrived in the 78th minutes courtesy of S. Clucas but it was a little too late as the Potters suffered their first home loss on the first day of the season.

Semi Ajayi, Nottingham Forest 1 – 2 West Brom

Three first half goals were all that was needed in this highly entertaining encounter that ended with the Super Eagles defender and his Albiom teammates leave the City Ground with maximum points.

https://www.twitter.com/SemiAjayi/status/1152524161820045313

M. Cash drew first blood for the hosts with the game barely 8 minutes old, but K. Edward quickly got Slaven Bilic’s men back on level terms eight minutes later before M. Phillips struck what proved to be the winner with less than half an hour played.

https://www.twitter.com/TheSecondTier/status/1152157806583308289

Semi Ajayi saw action from start till finish and was immense at the heart of the defence as Forest sought desperately for an equaliser.

Semi Ajayi has been stupendous in the air so far.

Gotten on the end of so many crosses I've lost count.

Looks a brilliant bit of business #wba #baggies

— Luke Hatfield (@luke__hatfield) August 3, 2019

Deji Oshilaja, Blackburn Rovers 1 – 2 Charlton Athletic

The former Wimbledon captain, who only joined Athletic a few days ago, made his competitive debut for Charlton as he was introduced into the game at stoppage time to help see out the away win in the first round of matches in the England Championship.

Absolutely delighted to sign for @CAFCofficial . I can’t wait to give my all for this great club and I look forward to meeting the fans #CAFC #DO4 pic.twitter.com/qW1tyoNyec

— Deji M Oshilaja (@DejiOshilaja) July 22, 2019

The Nigeria-born English defender watched mostly from the bench as B. Purrington gave his side a first half lead only for a D. Phillips own goal to restore parity early in the second half.

But L. Taylor’s fine finish thirteen minutes from time ensured that Charlton left Ewood Park with all the three points on offer.

The Bad

Tyrone Ebuehi, Benfica 5 – 0 Sporting Lisbon

The Nigeria international was an unused substitute as his club battered Sporting on all sides to pick up their first honours of the new season.

Ebuehi Eyes 1st Trophy As Benfica Face Sporting Lisbon In Portuguese Super Cup Clash https://t.co/inxuKKLzTH pic.twitter.com/F0aRMgwQwQ

— . (@CompleteSports) August 4, 2019

The fullback has been out of action for close to a year due to injury but returned to play a few minutes in a couple of friendly games for Benfica last week.

But he could only watch from the bench as goals from R Silva, Grimaldo, Chiquinho and a Pizzi brace made Benfica the winner of the Portugal Super Cup.

Alex Iwobi, Barcelona 2 – 1 Arsenal

The Super Eagles playermaker did not make the trip to Spain with Unai Emery’s men and could therefore do nothing to prevent the Gunners from succumbing to the superior firepower of the La Liga champions.

Aubameyang handed Arsenal a first half lead but an own goal from Maitland-Niles and a stoppage time strike by Suarez turned the tide around for the hosts who had Messi also missing.

Imoh Ezekiel and Abdul Ajagun, Kortrijk 1 – 1 Sporting Charleroi

Nigeria forward Imoh Ezekiel picked up a first half yellow card, fired blanks and was replaced later in the second half has his KV Kortrijk’s side could only force the visitors to a score draw at the Guldensporenstadion.

Royal Charleroi SC, having recently sold their Nigerian goal-getter Victor Osimhen to Lille OSC, got their noses in front thanks to a Ryota Morioka strike on the half-hour mark.

With the home team heading for a defeat, Abdul Ajagun was sent in to replace Elohim Rolland for the hosts.

The equaliser finally arrived with ten minutes left to play when Ilombe Mboyo got beyond his marker to slot the ball home.

Imoh Ezekiel lasted for only 72 minutes.

The Ugly

Stephen Odey, Mechelen 3 – 1 Genk

The Nigeria forward, who recently joined from FC Zurich, had a debut to forget as he was thrown into the mix with barely ten minutes of action remaining but he could not prevent the Belgian champions from falling to an unexpected loss at the AFAS Station.

W. Togui got the game’s opener but M. Samatta brought Genk back on level terms just before the half time break.

However, two second half strikes from the influential G. Engvall and De Camargo sealed the surprise win for Mechelen.