Football action continued across various leagues in Europe on Saturday, but it was quite uneventful for most Nigerian players.
However, a few of them put up outstanding performances for their teams.
Here is Soccernet’s compilation of the Performances of some of these Nigerian stars.
Innocent Bonke
The Nigeria international was not on duty for Malmo in their final day goalless stalemate at home to Halmstad, but he still received a medal as Malmo retained their Allsvenskan title despite a nervy end.
Malmo needed at least a draw to secure the Allsvenskan, while Halmstad needed a win to survive relegation.
However, the reigning champions showed their experience and held off all advances to secure their trophy on goals difference at the expense of AIK.
Bonke made 17 league appearances for his side last season.
Emmanuel Dennis
The Watford forward was in dazzling form for Watford in November, and his performances saw him earn him a nomination for the Premier league POTM.
However, it was a bad day in the office for the former Club Brugge man, as his Watford side suffered a 3-1 loss to Manchester City.
Dennis performance was a reflection of his team’s. They were poor for most embers of the games.
The former Cologne man lost the ball 17 times and committed four fouls.
However, he managed to test Manchester City show-stopper Ederson twice, but they were feeble attempts.
Watford have now lost their last three fixtures, and they sit 17th, three points away from relegation waters.
Kevin Akpoguma
The Nigeria international featured in a back three for Hoffenheim in their 3-2 Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 26-year-old put up an average show for Die Krachgauer.
He had a poor 51% pass accuracy and lost the ball 24 times.
However, he would take solace in the fact that he saw out the entire fixture, and his side ran out winners against their close rivals.
The victory takes Hoffenheim to fourth place, only above fifth place Union Berlin by goal difference.
Simy Nwankwo
It was yet another poor performance from the big striker.
Simy started and saw 61 minutes of action in Salernitana’s 2-0 loss to AC Milan.
The former Crotone man has been a shadow of himself this season, as he has scored just once this season.
The 29-year-old was totally silenced by the Rossoneri defence.
He couldn’t muster a single goal attempt, attempted zero dribbles, and lost possession 11 times.
He and his team’s poor performance ensures that the newly promoted Salernitana sit rock bottom of the Serie A, four points away from safety.
Samuel Chukwueze
The Villareal star only saw 18 minutes of action in Villareal’s 1-0 loss to Sevilla on the Spanish Laliga.
The Nigerian winger started from the bench and was only introduced into the game in the 72nd minute by coach Unai Emery when Villarreal was searching for a goal.
However, the 22-year-old could only do little to influence the game.
He succeeded in making two dribbles, but he lost possession nine times.
The loss leaves the Yellow Submarines in 13th place, 13 points away from Champions league spots.
Peter Olayinka
The Nigerian midfielder played all 90 minutes in Slavia Prague’s 1-0 victory over Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic top flight.
Olayinka put up a good show, as he was the major lynchpin for the Slavia Prague attack.
However, he couldn’t get a goal to add to his four-goal tally for the season.
Nevertheless, he would take solace in the fact that his side still sit on top of the Czech 1st Liga, five points ahead of Sparta Prague.
Tom Dele-Bashiru
The Reading forward saw all minutes of action in Reading’s 1-1 draw at home to Hull city in the England Championship.
The 22-year-old Watford-owned star had a 90% pass completion rate and succeeded in completing two of his seven attempted dribbles. He also had two shots on target and won five of his 11 ground duels.
However, the draw didn’t do Reading any favours as they sit 20th on the Championship log, five points above relegation waters.
Chidera Ejuke
The Nigeria international continues to show his brilliance in attack for his Moscow based side.
It is no surprise he has won the player of the month award for three months in a row.
The 23-year-old provided an audacious assist for Emil Bohinen to secure the vital three points for CSKA Moscow against Krylyva Sovetov Samara in the Russian premier league.
The former Heerenveen man took the ball from midfield and shook off advances from two defenders before squaring the ball for Bohinen to ensure that the former Russian champions ran out victorious.
The win takes the horses to fourth place, 10 points behind Zenit, who sit at the summit.
Akinkunmi Amoo
The former U-17 star was an unsung hero for Hammarby, as they stormed to a 5-3 victory over Kalmar in the final day of the Swedish Allsvenskan.
The 19-year-old provided one assist in both halves to Astrit Selmani to help the Kosovan secure a haul.
The left-footed winger finished his league campaign with nine goals and five assists in 29 appearances.
The win ensured that Hammarby finished their 2021 league campaign in fifth position, which means they will have to do without Continental football.
Chidozie Awaziem and Kayode Olarenwaju
Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem played all minutes in Alanyaspor’s 1-0 loss at home to Kayode Olarenwaju’s Sivasspor.
The home side conceded an early second-half goal courtesy of Kerem Kesgin’s goal, but they were unable to restore parity as Sivasspor kept it tight at the back.
Whilst Awaziem played all 90 minutes, Kayode was taken off in the 67th minute for Mustapha Yatabare.
