Eagles abroad: Awoniyi strikes in Forest’s Cup win; Ighalo on target; Onuachu, Etebo caged

A few Nigerian stars were in action for their clubs as the focus shifted away from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

League Cup

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored Nottingham Forest’s third goal in their 4-1 triumph over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in the League Cup.

Awoniyi pounced on a Jesse Lingard assist in the 79th minute to make it 3-1 for the visitors following earlier Forest’s goals from Brennan Johnson and Lingard.

Compatriot Emmanuel Dennis replaced Awoniyi in the 82nd minute but it was Jonhson who added the match’s fifth goal and his second of the night.

Dennis and Awoniyi were the goalscorers when the Reds defeated Valencia 2-1 in a friendly fine days ago.

Belgian Cup

It was a disappointing evening for Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika as his Club Brugge crashed out of the Belgian Cup following a crushing 4-1 loss to Sint-Truiden at the Jan Breydelstadion in Brugge.

Onyedika was on the pitch for the entire duration of the encounter and received a yellow card in the 33rd minute for his troubles.

The evening, however, ended on a pleasant note for Paul Onuachu as KRC Genk claimed a 1-0 win over Anderlecht at the Cegeka Arena after 120 minutes.

The match was goalless at full-time as Onuachu failed to add to his 14 goals this term. But Joseph Paintsil netted a 95th-minute effort to save Onuachu and co from the nerve-wracking troubles of penalty kicks.

In the Saudi Arabia Cup, Odion Ighalo delivered a brilliant performance to power Al Hilal to an impressive 4-0 win at home against Al Ittifaq.

One of Nigeria’s most prolific forwards in 2022, Ighalo opened the floodgates of goals for Al Hilal with an expert finish in the 12th minute.

Further goals from Mohammed Al Burayk, Vietto, and Michael sealed a comfortable evening for the Asian Galacticos.

In the Greek Super League, Oghenekaro Etebo returned to action after a short spell on the sidelines to help Aris Thessaloniki fight out a 1-1 draw at Levadiakos.

Etebo was not available when Aris defeated the same opponent 2-1 five days ago in the Greek Cup.

The Nigerian midfielder is still looking for his first goal for Aris since joining the side on loan from Stoke City in the summer.