Nigerians abroad: Monday, Okoronkwo star for Tenerife; Okoye, Nwankwo, Ebuehi endure tough day in Italy

Soccernet.ng highlights some eye-catching displays from Nigerian footballers outside the country’s shores on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Spain

It was a good afternoon for several Super Falcons stars in the Primera Division Femenine.

Toni Payne impressed as Sevilla went to Sporting De Huelva and came away with a 3-1 victory.

Rasheedat Ajibade was influential for Atletico Madrid as Sheila Guijarro’s four goals gave them an exciting 6-1 win away to Valencia.

Gift Monday, Rinsola Babajide, and Esther Okoronkwo played crucial roles that helped UD Tenerife avoid a defeat at Real Sociedad following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Monday equalised for Tenerife in the 26th minute after they fell behind to a Sanni Frensi strike six minutes earlier. Babajide set up the goal for her compatriot Monday.

Still, Tenerife were trailing 3-2 when Okoronkwo replaced Babajide in the 85th minute.

And deep into stoppage time, the Nigeria international provided the assist for fellow substitute María José Pérez to net the equaliser and earn Tenerife a share of the spoils.

Earlier on Saturday, Asisat Oshoala scored her first goal of the year 2024 in Barcelona’s dominating 9-1 victory over Levante Las Planas.

It is the champions’ 13th straight win of the campaign, pushing them nine points clear at the top of the league table.

Italy

However, it did not end well for many Nigerian stars in the Italian Serie A.

Injury forced Tyronne Ebuehi out of action midway into the first half of Empoli’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to AC Milan.

Maduka Okoye continued in goal as the first-choice goalkeeper for Udinese, but the home side endured a tough 2-1 defeat at the hands of Lazio. Isaac Success was a second-half substitute in the encounter played at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine.

Simy Nwankwo and Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi were in action for ten-man Salernitana as they succumbed to a narrow 2-1 loss to Juventus, three days after the former champions claimed a 6-1 win to dump Salernitana out of the Coppa Italia.

Greece

In the Super League 2, Abiola Dauda netted the third goal – his sixth of the campaign – for Ionikos in their exciting 4 – 1 victory against Ilioupoli.

At the Stadio Stavros Mavrothalassitis in Athens, David Nazim smashed a beautiful brace to inspire Egaleo to an entertaining 4 – 1 win over Diagoras, the home team’s fourth league victory of the season.

Portugal

Kelechi Nwakali out behind the disappointment of missing out on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as he posted an impressive display to help CD Chaves clinch a 2-2 draw away at Famalicão.