Nigerians abroad: Akinsanmiro, Awaziem celebrate Cup wins with Inter Milan, Hajduk Split

Here is Soccernet.ng‘s recap of the most notable performances of Nigerian footballers in Europe on Wednesday, May 24.

Sivasspor and Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Fenerbahce clashed in a tense battle during the second leg of the Turkish Cup semifinals, culminating in a goalless draw.

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa made a notable appearance from the bench, but Fenerbahce’s commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg secured their place in the final.

Meanwhile, in the scorching contest between Houston Dynamo and Minnesota United, Ibrahim Aliyu emerged as one of the standout performers. His stellar performance, which included a goal and an assist, lifted Dynamo to a resounding 4-0 triumph, propelling them into the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.

They will trade tackles with Chicago Fire in the last eight on June 5.

Over in the Czech Republic’s FNL, Karviná showcased their resilience with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Varnsdorf, thanks to the late heroics of teenage forward Lucky Ezeh. The youngster, who came off the bench, scored a crucial equalizer to salvage a point for his team.

In another captivating match, Wale Musa Alli orchestrated the opening goal for Zbrojovka Brno, but Teplice demonstrated their mettle by equalizing, concluding the game in a 1-1 draw.

In the realm of Italian football, Inter Milan clinched the coveted 2023 Coppa Italia trophy with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fiorentina. Among the stars in the Inter Milan squad was the gifted youngster Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, but he did not make it off the bench.

The Croatian Cup final showcased the brilliance of Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem, who played a full 90 minutes for Hajduk Split.

Awaziem’s exceptional performance contributed to his team’s 2-0 triumph over Sibenik, enabling them to claim their eighth Croatian Cup title.

In an equally momentous match, Omonia secured their victory in the 2023 Cypriot Cup, defeating AEK 1-0. Although Francis Uzoho was on the reserve bench for Omonia, his team’s triumph was secured by Iranian forward Karim Ansarifard’s 85th-minute goal.

This marked Omonia’s 16th Cypriot Cup title, further solidifying their reputation as a dominant force in Cypriot football.

Samuel Chukwueze made a significant impact as a second-half substitute for Villarreal in their comprehensive 2-0 victory over Cadiz, securing a UEFA Europa League spot for the team.