Nigeria Stars Abroad: Moses Simon, Asisat Oshoala shine; Alex Iwobi denied; Omeruo recalled

It was yet again a weekend of top quality action and controversies as football took centre stage across Africa, Asia and Europe among other climes.

Expectedly, Nigeria stars were on parade to showcase their skills and talents for their various clubs. Soccernet.ng was on ground to bring you the most comprehensive reports of your favourite stars.

Spain

Asisat Oshoala, Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol [Catalunya Cup Final]

Nigeria striker Oshoala scored a delightful opener to help Barcelona win the 2019 Copa Catalunya after a 4-0 win over Espanyol in the final on Saturday.

It was her first silverware since joining the Spanish giants in January.

Heading to Saturday’s final, Oshoala was  instrumental in the semifinal, scoring also to secure a 5-1 win over the Seagulls in the pre-season competition at the Estadi Municipal Palamos Costa Brava on Thursday.

https://www.twitter.com/AsisatOshoala/status/1165549183748718593

In the final, the two-time Chinese Women’s Super League title-winner blasted home the game’s first goal in the 24th minute after being teed up by Alexia Putellas.

A Mariona Caldentey double, the other from a penalty extended Barca’s lead before Claudia Pina rounded up the victory in regulation time.

Sam Chukwueze, Levante 2-1 Villarreal

Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze failed to shine as Villarreal suffered their first defeat of the league campaign to Levante.

The Nigerian was on parade from start to finish but failed to score as the Frogs came from a goal down to silence the Yellow Submarine.

Roger Marti’s second-half penalty brace powered the Frogs past the visitors who got their lone strike through Gerard Moreno.

Chukwueze and Villarreal will host Real Madrid in their next fixture.

Kenneth Omeruo, Leganes 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Kenneth Omeruo could not stop the high flying La Liga leaders from coming to town and making away with all three points as Leganes once again ended on the losing side.

Omeruo was on till the 77th minute when he was replaced by Jose Arnaiz as Leganes frantically searched for an equalizer.

France

Henry Onyekuru, Monaco 2-2 Nimes

Super Eagles forward, Henry Onyekuru grabbed a first half assist and delivered a fine performance but his club could only managed a draw at home to the minnows.

New recruits Islam Slimani, via a Henry Onyekuru assist, and Wissam Ben Yedder handed Monaco a two-goal cushion heading towards after time but a Jemerson red card changed the complexion of the tie.

https://www.twitter.com/henryconyekuru/status/1165663267110432768

Nimes capitalized by scoring in the 70th minute through Romain Philippoteaux before Kevin Denkey leveled proceedings in the 82nd minute.

Onyekuru was substituted in the 74th minute for Jonathan Panzo.

Italy

William Troost-Ekong, Udinese 1-0 AC Milan

In Italy, William Troost-Ekong featured for 90 minutes and played a key role as Udinese started the new Serie A season with a 1-0 home win against AC Milan.

Rodrigo Becao netted the winning goal for Udinese 18 minutes from time.

Scotland

Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo, St Mirren 0-1 Rangers

New Super Eagles invitee, Joe Aribo played every single minute as his Scottish club, Glasgow Rangers triumphed away to St. Mirren.

His compatriot and teammate Sheyi Ojo was not listed for the encounter. Aribo, 23, has featured in all of Rangers’ three league games this season, but is yet to open his goal account.

Greece

Anderson Esiti and Chuba Akpom, PAOK 2-0 Panaitolikos

Anderson Esiti and Chuba Akpom played prominent roles for the home side as PAOK enjoyed a dominant 2-0 over Panaitolikos.

Esiti was involved from start to finish in the encounter, while Akpom took the place of Karol Widerski in the 67th minute.

France

Moses Simon, Amiens 1-2 Nantes

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon, the last summer signing FC Nantes secured, was the hero of the weekend as he scored on his debut in the 84th minute to secure a 2-1 win for the Canaries.

With the scores at 1-1, the AFCON 2019 bronze medal winner was sent in to replace Abdoul Kaer Bamba in the 73rd minute. Ten minutes later Simon was celebrating a debut goal.

https://www.twitter.com/Fastrack100/status/1165379317867716609

Simon could have bagged a brace if his header late in the game hadn’t come off the crossbar.

Desire Oparanozie, Guingamp 2-0 Metz

Super Falcon star Desire Oparanozie was the captain and in fine form as Guingamp made a winning start against ten-woman Metz in their opening French top-flight game on Saturday.

Faustine Robert’s fine finish gave the home side the lead in the 30th minute before a Louise Fleury’s strike in added time sealed the win for Guingamp.

Oparanozie was in action for the entire duration of the match as the result at Fred-Aubert Stadium placed Guingamp in fourth position on the league table.

Samuel Kalu, Dijon 0-2 Bordeaux

At the Stade Gaston-Gerard, Samuel Kalu provided an assist in Bordeaux 2-0 away win against Dijon.

Kalu laid the final pass for Hwang Ui-jo’s opening goal for Bordeaux.

https://www.twitter.com/Fastrack100/status/1165357132943962112

He was replaced by Yassine Benrahou 10 minutes from time.

South Africa

Daniel Akpeyi, Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Super Sport United

Daniel Akpeyi was Kaizer Chiefs’ penalty hero in Saturday’s PSL game against Super Sport United at the FNB Stadium.

Summer buy, Samir Nurkovic gave Amakhosi the lead inside 14 minutes but the away side leveled the scores in the second half.

33-year-old Akpeyi and co faced an imminent home loss when the away side were awarded a penalty with minutes left of regulation time.

But the Nigerian goalkeeper came to the rescue, diving the right way to beat Grobler’s spot kick away and keep the score tied.

China

Francisca Ordega, Shanghai 3-2 Jiangsu Suning

Super Falcon forward Francisca Ordega was on target for Shanghai as they condemned league leaders Jiangsu Suning to their first defeat of the season following a 3-2 victory on Sunday.

In the 36th minute, Ordega scored for the home side to cancel Jiali’s opener to ensure a 1-1 stalemate at half time.

https://www.twitter.com/OrdegaF/status/1163294014704979968

Ordega has now scored four goals in eight games for Shanghai, who retain the second spot on the league with 17 points from nine matches and also reduced the gap to leaders Jiangsu to seven points, with a game in hand – against Guangdong on August 28.

England

Alex Iwobi, Aston Villa 2-0 Everton

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi was finally handed his debut for Everton but it ended on a sad note as Marco Silva’s men conceded their first goals and loss of the league season.

“It was just one of those games and we have to move on.”

Alex Iwobi, who hit the post this morning, concedes that Everton weren’t at their best against Aston Villa.

FT: Aston Villa 2 – 0 Everton #OptusSport #PL #AVLEVE pic.twitter.com/mY6tidZwyE

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 23, 2019

The Super Eagles star was called upon by Marco Silva in the 61st minute with Iwobi’s introduction bringing spark and life to the away team as he struck the woodwork in the 83rd minute.

Everton will next play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, 1st of September.

Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, Sheffield United 1-2 Leicester City 

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi missed Leicester City’s 2-1 away win against Sheffield United on Saturday at the Bramall Lane due to a hamstring injury.

It was the first time Ndidi missed a league game for the Foxes since May 2018, with summer signing Dennis Praet replacing him in the starting line-up.

His international teammate, Kelechi Iheanacho was not included in the matchday squad by manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Iheanacho is yet to make an appearance for the former Premier League champions this season.

Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes got the goals for Leicester City in what was Leicester City’s first win of the new campaign.

Isaac Success, Watford 1-3 West Ham

At the Vicarage Road, Issac Success was left out of the matchday squad for the second consecutive week as Watford went down to a 3-1 home loss to West Ham United.

Success has made one league appearance for the Hornets this season.

Leon Balogun, Brighton 0-2 Southampton

In another Premier League game at the American Express Community Stadium, Leon Balogun failed to make the bench in Brighton & Hove Albion’s 2-0 home defeat to Southampton.

Balogun is yet to make any matchday squad in all of Brighton’s three Premier League games so far this season.

Eberechi Eze, QPR 3-1 Wigan

Eberechi Eze netted the second goal as Rangers bounced back from going a goal down to win 3-1 in front of their own fans.

Cedric Kipre gave Wigan the lead after two minutes, but the Rs levelled through Nahki Wells in the 48th minute.

Eze handed the hosts the advantage just after the hour mark, before Jordan Hugill added a third nine minutes from time, thanks to an assist from the Nigerian starlet.

https://www.twitter.com/QPR/status/1165330430985269251

QPR will savour that fine win, having lost their previous two games and had gone without a win in three matches following an opening-day triumph over Oghenekaro Etebo’s Stoke City.

Ovie Ejaria Huddersfield 0-2 Reading

Up in Yorkshire, Huddersfield Town were gunned down 2-0 by Reading in a late capitulation by the Terriers.

Ejaria, who netted a wondergoal against West Bromwich Albion in midweek, once again opened the scoring in the 71st minute, before Michael Morrison added a second 15 minutes later.

The recent loan arrival from Liverpool was replaced in the 76th minute following a fine showing in the heart of the park.

https://www.twitter.com/QuestTV/status/1164922996558946306

After losing both of their opening games, Reading have now taken seven points from their last three matches to move into the top half of the Championships.

Semi Ajayi, Derby County 1-1 West Brom

At the Pride Park, Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi played his fifth consecutive game for West Bromwich Albion to help Slaven Bilic side force their hosts Derby County to a stalemate.

Ajayi has played every minute of West Brom’s league game this season.

"The fact we have managed to stay unbeaten is really positive."

Hear @SemiAjayi's thoughts on our 1-1 with Derby in full over at https://t.co/CZ5IBrM5e0 #WBA pic.twitter.com/BR7JPuUEKJ

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) August 25, 2019

Martyn Waghom put Derby ahead from the spot in the sixth minute, while Kenneth Zohore equalised with a penalty six minutes from time.

Oghenekaro Etebo, Stoke City 0-3 Leeds United

The Super Eagles midfield general finally made his first start of the campaign for Stoke City but couldn’t prevent them from going down to a 3-0 home defeat to Leeds United.

Etebo was in action for 90 minutes in the game.