Nigerians Euro roundup: Three Super Eagles stars on target, Osimhen sees red, Nwakali brilliant

There were more games on Sunday in Europe’s domestic leagues, and once again, some Nigerian stars delivered a top performance

Taiwo Awoniyi’s brilliant start to the season continued on Sunday after his goal helped Union Berlin win a point at Hoffenheim. 

Awoniyi was not the only Super Eagles star that scored in the clash, as Kevin Akpoguma was also on target. The Super Eagles defender scored the equaliser for Hoffenheim after Niko Giesselmann had opened the scoring for Union Berlin four minutes earlier.

J. B. Larsen put Hoffenheim ahead in the 30th minute, but Awoniyi capitalised on a poor clearance from Akpoguma in the 47th minute to ensure both teams shared the spoils.

Kingsley Ehizibue also delivered a good performance on Sunday, although it was not enough to prevent Cologne from a 3-2 loss at Bayern Munich.

The Dutch-born Nigerian provided the assist to Mark Uth’s equaliser in the 62nd minute. Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry had given the champions the lead, but Anthony Modeste and Mark Uth drew Cologne level.

However, Gnabry’s second of the day sealed a 3-2 win for the Bavaria giants.

In Scotland, Joe Aribo opened his account for the season as Rangers bounced back in the Scottish Premiership with a 4-2 victory over Ross County. 

Aribo opened the scoring with a fantastic curler in the 15th minute before Connor Goldson’s header doubled the away side’s advantage four minutes later.

Harry Clarke pulled one back for Ross County, but Alfredo Morelos restored Rangers two-goal lead in the 57th minute.

Jordan White gave the home side a little bit of hope in the 77th minute, but Scott Arfield’s strike six minutes from time sealed the three points for Rangers.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Kelechi Nwakali’s rejuvenation continued as he helped Huesca to a 2-0 win over Cartagena in the Spanish second division.

Nwakali was on the pitch for 62 minutes, and during that period, he made two key passes, managed one short on target and four off-target.

It was Nwakali’s second appearance of the new season as goals from Julián Delmás and Mikel Rico helped Huesca to two wins out of two in the league this campaign.

Meanwhile, in Italy’s Serie A, Nigerian stars in action had a day to forget. Super Eagles golden boy Victor Osimhen grabbed the headlines, but for the wrong reason after he was sent off in Napoli’s opening match against Venezia. 

The former Lille man was given his marching orders in the 23rd minute for shoving Daan Heymans as Napoli played a corner into the box.

However, it did not cost Napoli as a penalty from Lorenzo Insigne and a strike from Eljif Elmas sealed a comfortable 2-0 win for the home side.

Osimhen was not the only Nigerian that featured in the game, though, as Tyronne Ebuehi made his debut for Venezia after joining on loan from Benfica.

His compatriot, David Okereke, who also joined the Venice-based club on a loan deal this summer, missed the clash due to visa registration issues.

In another Serie A clash, Simy Nwankwo and Joel Obi made their debuts for Salernitana against Bologna, but they could not prevent the newly-promoted side from a 3-2 defeat. 

Meanwhile, it was a more positive result for Destiny Udogie on his Serie A debut for Udinese as they came back from two goals down against Juventus to earn a point.

Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado goals had given the former champions a first-half lead, but Roberto Pereyra’s penalty and Gerard Deulofeu’s strike sealed a 2-2 draw for the home side.

Udogie, who played as a left wing-back, was on the pitch for 57 minutes.

In France, Moses Simon played for just 45 minutes as Nantes suffered a 1-0 loss to Rennes at Roazhon Park. His compatriot, Terem Moffi also suffered a similar fate as Lorient lost 2-1 to Montpellier at the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday afternoon in their third match of the new Ligue 1 season.