Nigerians abroad: Ighalo’s title dream snuffed, Troost-Ekong hold Milan, Ebuehi cage Inter, Sanusi returns

Nigerian footballers continue to make their mark abroad, as they put in impressive performances across various leagues and competitions around the world. From the Championship in England to the top flight in Portugal and Saudi Arabia, these players have been instrumental in their teams’ successes or near misses. 

Soccernet.ng takes a closer look at some of the standout performances of Nigerian players in recent games, highlighting their contributions to their teams. 

Tella, Akpom, Ekong, Ebuebi brilliant

In the highly anticipated Championship match, Burnley secured their place in the Premier League with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough. Nathan Tella was the star of the show, providing the crucial assist for the winning goal.

Meanwhile, Boro’s Chuba Akpom made a valiant effort, scoring a brilliant goal that, unfortunately, wasn’t enough to secure a victory for his team.

Leon Balogun’s week went from bad to worse as his team, Queens Park Rangers, suffered a 0-2 defeat at home to Preston North End. It was a disappointing outing for the Super Eagles defender, as his team struggled to keep up with the pace of their opponents.

Similarly, Semi Ajayi had a tough day at the office as Rotherham United crushed West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on home ground.

Over in Italy’s Serie A, William Troost-Ekong made an impressive appearance off the bench for Salernitana, helping his team earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against AC Milan.

Troost-Ekong’s solid defensive play was a key factor in his team’s ability to hold off AC Milan’s relentless attack.

Tyronne Ebuehi was a standout performer for Empoli as they earned a goalless draw away to AC Milan. Ebuehi’s exceptional defensive skills were on full display as he helped his team secure a much-needed point.

Akujobi, Eneh, and Onyedika excellent

In the Netherlands’ Eerste Divisie, Hamdi Akujobi was the day’s hero for Almere City, scoring the crucial first goal in their 2-1 come-from-behind victory over AZ II.

Akujobi’s timely strike proved the turning point in the match, as his team secured all three points.

Ndubuisi Francis Eneh was instrumental in Apolonia Fier’s impressive comeback 2-1 victory over Burreli in Albania’s 1st Division. Eneh’s skillful play and clinical finishing helped his team secure three crucial points.

In the Bangladeshi Premier League, Peter Nworah performed brilliantly, scoring a crucial goal to help Abahani Dhaka secure a 2-0 away victory at Fortis. Nworah’s fantastic display helped his team secure a valuable three points.

In Belgium’s top flight, Raphael Onyedika was a force to be reckoned with in midfield, putting in a solid performance as Club Brugge secured a straightforward 2-0 win over RFC Seraing. Onyedika’s skillful play and excellent passing helped his team dominate the match.

Sanusi makes injury return, Ighalo caged

In Croatia, Chidozie Awaziem made a significant impact as a second-half substitute for Hajduk Split in their 2-2 draw against Istra 1961. Awaziem’s presence on the pitch helped his team secure a valuable point in a hard-fought match.

Over in Portugal, Zaidu Sanusi made a triumphant return from injury, appearing off the bench for Porto in their thrilling 2-1 victory over league leaders Benfica. Sanusi’s impressive defensive play helped his team secure a vital three points, putting them within striking distance of their rivals.

Bruno Onyemaechi put in a brilliant performance for Boavista as they returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Vitoria Guimaraes. Onyemaechi’s skillful play and clinical finishing were key factors in his team’s ability to secure a crucial victory.

Finally, in Saudi Arabia, Odion Ighalo’s impressive scoring run came to a halt as Al Hilal suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Al Shabab. The loss dealt a significant blow to the title aspirations of Ighalo and Al Hilal.