Soccernet.ng highlights some of the meaningful impacts made by a few Nigerian footballers across league and cup games in Europe
Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers came off the bench to rescue a point for Feyenoord in their 1-1 draw against Groningen in an Eredivisie clash at the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam.
Feyenoord were trailing by the odd goal when Dessers came off the bench in the 56th minute. And the on-loan Genk ace needed just a quarter of an hour to drag the hosts back on levelled terms.
But all effort to net a late winner proved abortive against a well-organised Groningen side that had lost just one of their last six league matches.
Making his 21st Championship appearance of the season, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi was a strongman in defence for West Bromwich Albion as the Baggies halted a three-match losing streak with a 2-0 win at Hull City.
Playing alongside Bartley and Clarke in a three-man defence, Ajayi helped the visitors keep it tight at the back, allowing Ahearne-Grant’s brace to secure all three points for West Brom.
In an Italian Serie B game week 28 contest, Nigerian forward Simy Nwankwo claimed an assist as Parma were held to a 1-1 draw by Reggina at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma.
With the legendary Gigi Buffon in goal, Parma were hunting for only their eighth league win of the campaign.
And all appeared to be going according to plan when Simy provided the ammunition for Argentine forward Juan Brunetta to fire home the opener in the 20th minute. But Elias Cobbaut’s 65th-minute own goal denied the hosts the maximum points.
In France, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s heroics were not enough as her Paris FC were knocked out of the Coupe de France Feminine by Fleury 91 on penalties at the Stade Charléty.
Fulltime scores stood at 1-1 after Fleury’s Ewelina Kamczyk cancelled out Gaetane Thiney’s first-half opener for the home side.
Straight to penalties where Nnadozie did well to keep out Julie Piga’s spot-kick. But teammates Soya and Corboz missed their efforts to erase Paris FC’s cup dreams and send Fleury to the semifinals.
Also on Saturday, Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey, and Leon Balogun impressed as Rangers carved out a narrow 1-0 win over Aberdeen at the Ibrox Stadium.
It did not, however, end well for Taiwo Awoniyi in the German Bundesliga. The Super Eagles striker netted an own goal that condemned Union Berlin to a 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg.
