Football fans were treated to an exciting weekend of action as Nigerian stars lit up the pitch in various leagues across Europe. From stunning comebacks to record-breaking performances, there was no shortage of drama.
In Albania’s Superliga, Partizani Tirana put on a dominant display against Kastrioti Krujë, winning 4-1. Christian Mba put the icing on the cake with the game’s final goal, capping off an impressive performance.
Meanwhile, in Belgium’s First Division A, Royale Union Saint Gilloise mounted a thrilling comeback to beat Mechelen 2-1. Goals from Lapoussin and Teuma, with Victor Boniface playing a starring role, secured the win.
In the Czech Republic, Wale Musa Alli opened the scoring for Zbrojovka Brno, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Jablonec from securing a 2-1 win in the end.
Over in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, Anthony Ujah proved to be the hero for Eintracht Braunschweig, providing the assist for the stoppage-time winner in their 1-0 victory over Hannover 96.
In Greece’s Super League 1, Oghenekaro Etebo gave it his all for Aris, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 home defeat to PAOK Saloniki on opening weekend.
However, the real standout performance came from Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who scored a brace of headers to lead his team to a resounding 4-0 win over Torino in Italy’s Serie A. With 21 goals this season, Osimhen now holds the record for the most goals scored in a season by a Nigerian footballer in any of Europe’s top five leagues.
In the Eredivisie, it was a disappointing day for Calvin Bassey as Ajax suffered a 3-2 home defeat to bitter rivals Feyenoord, failing to overtake them at the top of the table.
Moving to Portugal, Abraham Marcus was in fine form, hitting a brace as Porto B thumped Leixões 4-0 in the Segunda Liga.
At the same time, Saviour Godwin played a starring role in Casa Pia’s 2-0 home win over Maritimo in the Primeira Liga.
In La Liga, Samuel Chukwueze scored a stunning volley and had another goal ruled out by VAR as Villarreal cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Osasuna. The 21-year-old winger has contributed to 21 goals (10 goals, 11 assists) in all competitions this season, making him one of the most exciting prospects in world football. Meanwhile, Rasheedat Ajibade found the back of the net early on to help Atletico Madrid secure a 3-1 victory at Alhama.
However, it was a tough day for Super Falcons star Osinachi Ohale and her Deportivo Alaves teammates, as they could not contain Real Sociedad’s attacking prowess, losing 6-5 in a thrilling encounter.
Lastly, in the Turkish Super Lig, Leke James put in a solid performance for Sivasspor, while Ahmed Musa came off the bench to help snap their four-match losing streak in a 2-0 win over Ankaragücü.
Overall, it was an eventful weekend for Nigerian footballers across Europe, with many showcasing their skills and making a significant impact for their respective clubs.
