European league football returned on Saturday after the international break with a few players of Nigerian descent in action for their clubs.
In the Championship, Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong was solid in defence for Watford as the Hornets picked a fine 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers.
Ben Wilmot’s third-minute opening goal handed the visitors the lead, but Ilias Chair’s 77th-minute leveller saw both sides share the points at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Four Nigeria-eligible stars were involved as Bournemouth came out victorious in an exciting six-goal thriller with Reading at the Vitality Stadium.
Ovie Ejaria provided the assist for Sone Aluko’s 43rd-minute strike that doubled Reading’s lead heading into the interval.
But the hosts’ incredible response of four goals in the second half was kickstarted by Dominic Solanke’s 56th-minute effort and sealed by the former Chelsea man’s strike moments before the end of the match.
Bournemouth sent on young Nigerian midfielder Nnamdi Ofoborh deep into stoppage time for his second appearance of the season.
John Obi Mikel and Stoke City continued their surge up the Championship table with another thrilling 4-3 win over Huddersfield at the bet365 Stadium.
Mikel, who was praised by the Potters boss before the match, was yet again impressive in the middle of the Park despite picking up a yellow card in the 44th-minute of the encounter.
Stoke City rise to seventh on the league table with the victory, a point below the playoff spots.
In Norway’s Eliteserien, Nigerian forward Leke James was once again the star of the show as Molde secured a brilliant 3-0 win at Stabaek on matchday 25.
James got two of the visitors’ goals – the opening goal deep into first-half stoppage time and the game’s third goal, five minutes to the end – to bring his goal tally in the league to 11 in 18 matches.
The 28-year-old continues to push for a call-up to the Nigerian national team.
Young Nigerian shot-stopper Matthew Yakubu kept his first clean sheet since August to help his Slovakian side Sered hold Ruzomberok to a 0-0 draw at the Stadion FC ViOn.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who earned his first Super Eagles’ call-up for the team’s October friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia, has featured in 12 of Sered’s 14 league matches this season.
