Nigerians abroad: Demehin nets first goal in France; Osimhen, Uzoho shine; Imuran, Akinade, Eze on target

Soccernet.ng highlights some eye-catching displays from Nigerian footballers outside the country’s shores on Saturday, December 16, 2023.

ALBANIA

Peter Itodo scored the first and last goals for Luzi 2008 as they cruised to a 3-1 win over Kastrioti Krujë in the Albanian 1st Division.

CYPRUS

Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho retained his place between the goalposts and made a few good saves to inspire Omonia Nicosia to a 2-1 triumph over Karmiotissa in the 1. Division.

ENGLAND

In the English Premier League, Alex Iwobi was in action while Calvin Bassey was unavailable due to illness as Fulham lost their winning run courtesy of a 3-0 loss to Newcastle.

In the Championship, Joe Aribo retained his spot in Southampton’s starting lineup as the Saints powered to a 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Jamilu Collins was on the losing side as Hull City outclassed Cardiff City following a 3-0 triumph.

Watford’s African players were the brightest stars at the Deepdale, where Preston fell to a 1-5 defeat to the rampaging Hornets.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Vakoun Issouf Bayo netted twice, and he assisted compatriot Ismaël Kone’s strike after Nigeria’s Tom Dele-Bashiru had supplied the assist for Congo DR’s Edouard Kayembe to score Watford’s third of the day.

FRANCE

Super Falcons defender Oluwatosin Demehin scored her first goal in France to help Stade De Reims record a commanding 5-2 win away at Lille.

Demehin’s goal was Reims’ third of the afternoon, only for compatriot Rofiat Imuran to come off the bench and net her side’s fourth goal in the encounter.

Nigerian full-back Imuran’s strike is her third goal this term, already one more than the two she managed last season.

GERMANY

In the Bundesliga, Kevin Akpoguma was a second-half substitution during Hoffenheim’s crushing 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig.

ITALY

African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen headed home Mario Rui’s brilliant cross for Napoli’s opener and later conjured up an astonishing assist for the winner to guide the Serie A champions to a hard-fought 2-1 win against Cagliari.

Still in the Italian top division, Tyronne Ebuehi featured for 90 minutes for Empoli as Torino claimed all three points at stake thanks to a 1-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

MALAYSIA

In the Super League, Kelantan United fought back from a two-goal deficit to soar to a 6-2 victory over city rivals Kelantan, with Ismahil Akinade among the goals for the winners against his former employers.

PORTUGAL

Chidozie Awaziem and Bruno Onyemaechi were impressive for Boavista as they battled to a 1-1 draw with Vitoria Guimaraes in the Primeira Liga.

SERBIA

Patrick Eze netted a stoppage-time equaliser for Mladost Lucani only for Milošević’s own-goal to condemn the home side to a tough 1-2 loss to Napredak in their Super Liga game week 19 clash.

Peter Olayinka was a second-half substitute as Red Star Belgrade overcame their midweek loss to Manchester City with a convincing 4-1 win away to Spartak Subotica.

Geoffrey Chinedu netted his sixth goal in 15 league games to help Radnički Kragujevac earn a 3-3 draw at Partizan.

SLOVAKIA

Flying Eagles winger Jude Sunday claimed an assist to aid Trencin’s excellent 4-1 victory against Zlaté Moravce in the Slovakian Super Liga.

SPAIN

Super Falcons midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade was an influential force for Atletico Madrid in their exciting 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Spanish Primera Division Femenina.