Nigerian exports: Ajibade, Maja, Alli, Eze, Arokodare paint Europe with goals

There were goals aplenty for several Nigerian footballers in Europe on Saturday. Soccernet.ng brings you some of the best action points.

In Spain, Super Falcons star Rasheedat Ajibade helped Atletico Madrid begin the 2022-23 Primera División Femenina season with a fine 3-1 win at Sevilla.

Ajibade opened the scoring for Atletico in the 34th at the Estadio Jesús Navas but saw her strike cancelled out by Inma Gabarro five minutes into the second half.

But a Ludmila brace in the 56th and 69th minutes gave the visitors a convincing victory.

Ajibade’s international teammate Tony Payne featured from start to finish for Sevilla.

Elsewhere in the division, Nigerian defender Osinachi Ohale was a second-half substitute for Deportivo Alaves as they fell to a 1-2 home loss to Madrid.

At the Estadi Johan Cruyff, Asisat Oshoala was introduced to the fray in the 62nd minute of Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Granadilla Tenerife.

France: Ligue 2

Super Eagles striker Josh Maja was once again too hot to handle as he got his name on the scorer’s chart in Girondins Bordeaux’s 2-1 defeat of Dijon.

Maja got the opener from the penalty spot for the home side to account for his fifth goal of the season and his fourth in his last four games.

Despite his brilliant form, the 23-year-old has been snubbed by the Super Eagles handlers for Nigeria’s September 27 friendly against Algeria.

Maja’s only appearance for Nigeria was as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Ukraine in 2019.

Nigerian forward Tolu Arokodare made up for his missed penalty last weekend by powering Amiens SC to a 3-0 win at home to Niort.

Juventus loanee and Arokodare’s biggest support, Ange Chibozo set up the Nigerian striker for Amiens’ third of the afternoon in the 75th minute.

Elsewhere, Sochaux raced to the top of the French second division with a 3-1 mauling of Nimes. Super Eagles invitee Valentine Ozornwafor however, watched the entire match as an unused substitute on the home team’s bench.

In the Czech top flight, Nigerian youngster Wale Alli had a hand in both Zbrojovka Brno’s goals in their 2-2 draw with Teplice.

Alli netted his first goal for Zbrojovka since joining the Brno-based club in June to level the scores in the 19th minute, following Jukl’s seventh-minute opener for the visitors.

The 21-year-old attacker then assisted Sevcik to make it 2-1 in the 37th minute.
But Kučera’s strike in first-half stoppage time ensured a share of the spoils for Teplice.

In Turkey, Nigerian attackers Jesse Sekidika and Emeka Eze were the architects of Eyüpspor’s 4-1 triumph over Bandirmaspor in a 1.Lig clash.

Former Galatasaray man Sekidika broke the deadlock shortly after the halftime break before Eze added a brace on either side of a Dibba goal.

It is now four goals in six games for Eze since joining Eyüpspor from Keçiörengücü two months ago.