Euro wrap: Osimhen, Payne shine; Olayinka, Kanu, Taiwo on target in crucial wins

In the world of football, many Nigerian players made an impact in their respective leagues over the weekend.

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England, Spain, Italy, and France

In the English Premier League, Alex Iwobi played well for Everton as they secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Brentford, which lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho played for Leicester City in their 3-1 defeat against Chelsea, with Wilfred Ndidi an unused substitute.

Emmanuel Dennis came off the bench for Nottingham Forest, who lost 3-1 to Tottenham.

Over in Spain, Toni Payne assisted Sevilla’s early goal, but Levante Las Planas fought back with the help of Rita Chikwelu and Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene to earn a 1-1 draw in the Primera Division Feminina.

Asisat Oshoala could not score for Barcelona, but her team still won 4-0 at Levante. 

In Italy, Victor Osimhen contributed an assist in Napoli’s 2-0 win against Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta, which kept them 18 points clear at the top of the Serie A table.

Tyronne Ebuehi was on the bench as Isaac Success and Kinglsey Ehizibue helped Udinese secure a narrow 1-0 win over Empoli.

In France, Josh Maja assisted Girondins Bordeaux’s only goal in their 1-1 draw against Sochaux in the French Ligue 2.

Other European Leagues

Moving to Albania, Chinonso Onu scored a goal for Besa Kavajë in their 5-1 victory over Turbina Cërrik in the Albanian 1st Division.

In the Czech Republic, Igoh Ogbu played well in defence, and Peter Olayinka scored a crucial equaliser as Slavia Prague came from behind to beat Viktoria Plzen, with Rafiu Durosinmi coming on as a substitute for Plzen in the 85th minute.

Oche Ochonwochi ended his six-month goal drought by scoring the winning goal for Feirense in their 1-0 win away to UD Oliveirense in the Portuguese Segunda Liga.

Okechukwu Irobiso continued his fine form in Liga 1 as he provided the assist for Petrolul 52’s winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Arges.

In Russia, Aba-born Macleans Chinonyerem scored the opening goal to help Lokomotiv Moskva secure a 2-0 victory over Yenisey in the opening weekend of the 2023 Superliga Women’s season.

In Slovakia, Wisdom Kanu contributed a goal and an assist, while Issa Adekunle came off the bench to score, as Zemplín Michalovce outclassed Zlaté Moravce 5-2 in a thrilling encounter.

Elsewhere, Abdurahman Taiwo scored twice to help Spartak Trnava win 6-1 at home to Podbrezová.

Finally, in Slovenia, Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi came off the bench to score a late winner for NK Celje in their narrow 1-0 victory away at Koper.