A few Nigerian footballers were in action for their various clubs on Friday as the weekend league fixtures kicked off in earnest.
Two Super Falcons stars, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and fullback Oluwatosin Demehin were on opposite sides as Stade de Reims held Paris FC to a 2-2 draw in the French women’s first division.
A member of the Nigerian squad that teaches the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup earlier in the year, Demehin only joined Reims a few days ago on a two-year deal.
Reims signed the 20-year-old alongside Falconets teammate Rofiat Imuran.
Demehin and 18-year-old Imuran made their Super Falcons debut in September during an international friendly match with the United States.
But only Demehin saw action in Paris on Friday to help Reims beat their hosts, who also paraded Super Falcons’ number one goalie Nnadozie from start to finish.
In the English Premier League, Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka made a rare start for Brentford in their 2-0 win over Brighton Hove & Albion at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Making the Bees’ first eleven for the first time this season in the gameweek 11 clash, Onyeka assisted his side’s first goal scored by Ivan Toney in the 27th minute. Toney converted a penalty for the game’s second goal shortly past the hour mark before Onyeka was replaced in the 71st minute.
The victory lifted Brentford out of a three-game winless steak and up to the eighth position on the league table ahead of other weekend fixtures.
In the German Bundesliga, Nigerian defender Kevin Akpoguma watched from the bench as Hoffenheim ran out 3-0 winners at Schalke 04.
Robert Skov netted a brace of penalties on either side of a Moanes Dabbur strike to hand the visitors their fifth win in ten league games.
