Nigeria Players Roundup: Onazi Wins, Mikel Obi Advances; Cup Joy For Onyekuru’s Galatasaray

Ogenyi Onazi guided Denizlispor to a fine 2-0 win over Trabzonspor in the return leg of their Turkey Cup tie on Thursday evening, but it was John Mikel Obi and Anthony Nwakaeme who advanced to the next stage on penalties.

Nwakaeme’s brace powered Trabzonspor to a 2-0 win at the Medical Park Stadyumu last Thursday in the first leg. But the powerful Nigeria international received his marching others during extra time last night as Onazi and the home side gained their pound of flesh.

With scores at 2-2 on aggregate, penalties eventually separated the two foes, and it was Trabzonspor that won 4-2 to advance to the next stage of the competition.

At the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Turk Telekom Stadium, Nigeria’s Jesse Sekidika played his part to help Galatasaray record a 2-1 victory, edging past Aminu Umar’s Rizespor into the quarter-finals of the Turkey Cup.

The first leg of the matchup ended 1-1 last week.

Gala’s Buyuk and Rizespor’s Caglayan netted second-half penalties before a Mario Lemina header settled proceedings in favour of the hosts.

On loan Monaco forward, Henry Onyekuru did not make the matchday squad for Galatasaray as he continued to celebrate the birth of his new baby.

Meanwhile, in England, Tranmere Rovers completed the shock of the FA Cup by knocking out Tom Dele-Bashiru and Watford also on Thursday.

The lower league side claimed a dramatic 3-3 draw at the Vicarage Road last week, having to fight back from three goals down.

But a 2-1 win – secured through a fine Jennings strike six minutes before time sealed the home side’s passage into the next round of the competition

Nigerian youngster, Dele-Bashiru was replaced at the start of the second half, but compatriot Isaac Success was not listed in the matchday squad.