A few Nigerian players delivered impressive performances as their respective clubs were involved in the midweek league and cup actions
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo netted a second-half penalty to power Al Hilal to a fine 2-0 away win at Al Ittifaq in their outstanding Saudi Pro League match.
Ighalo’s strike was his 21st league goal, equalling his career-best return, which he hit in his second year at Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai.
Despite the 32-year-old’s brilliance, Al Hilal may still not win the Saudi league title, with the defending champions sitting second, six points behind leaders Al Ittihad with only four games left.
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In Scotland, Super Eagles trio Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey, and Joe Aribo waved goodbye to the Premiership title they won last year despite Rangers thrashing Ross County 4-1 at the Ibrox Stadium.
Aribo played the first 45 minutes, Balogun was introduced at halftime, while Bassey assisted the Gers’ last goal of the night.
But bitter rivals Celtic’s 1-1 draw at Dundee United was enough to reclaim the league title from the Gers.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men can still win a cup double, though, as they are in the final of the Scottish Cup and the Europa League.
Elsewhere, Nigerian striker Yira Sor was on target for Slavia Prague in their 1-1 draw at Banik Ostrava in the Championship round of the Czech Liga.
The youngster powered home a fine finish in the fifth minute to hand the visitors the lead, but Buchta equalised for the home side to leave a massive dent in Slavia’s title hopes.
The Slavists currently trail league leaders Viktoria Plzen by four points with just two matches remaining to close the campaign.