Nigerians abroad: Ebere scores on Libertadores debut, Aliyu shines, Osimhen hits Barca back, Onyekuru crashes

Soccernet.ng monitored dozens of matches that could potentially involve Nigerian players on Wednesday, February 21st.

Here are the most eye-catching highlights:

Venezuela

Osinachi Christian Ebere scored from the penalty spot to double Nacional’s advantage and guide the club to a 2-0 away win over Academia Puerto Cabello in their CONMEBOL Libertadores second-round clash at the Estadio Polideportivo Misael Delgado in Valencia, Venezuela.

Ebere, who only joined Uruguayan giants Nacional from Plaza Colonia on loan in January, made his club debut in the 2-1 win over River Plate at the weekend.

The 25-year-old forward will be pleased with his goal contribution in his first-ever appearance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, which three-time winners Nacional last won in 1988.

Ebere will aim to help the Álvaro Recoba-tutored side reach the competition’s group stage.

Albania

30-year-old Sodiq Ololade Atanda was impressive in defence for Erzeni Shijak as they secured a 2-1 win over Vllaznia Shkodër in the first leg of the Round of 16 Cup tie.

The second leg will be played at the Stadium Loro Boriçi in Shkodër on March 5.

UEFA Champions League

Victor Osimhen scored his first Napoli goal of 2024 as the Italian champions forced Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the first knockout round fixture at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples.

Robert Lewandowski gave the Catalans the lead on the hour mark before Osimhen side-footed home the equaliser 15 minutes later to set up a balanced mood ahead of the second leg in three weeks.

Injured Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi was not involved as Porto scored a last-gasp winner to seal a 1-0 victory against Arsenal. 

AFC Champions League

Peter Utaka and Japan’s Ventforet Kofu are out of the Asian Champions League after losing 5-1 on aggregate to Korea Republic’s Ulsan.

Ventforet Kofu lost 2-1 on home soil last week and crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on Wednesday, with Utaka making a 55th-minute substitute appearance.

Elsewhere, Anthony Nwakaeme and Henry Onyekuru featured for Al Feyha, but it was not enough to help the club avoid a 2-0 defeat to Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted the only goal in the first leg, scored again four minutes from time to seal an aggregate 3-nil victory and send Al Feyha crashing out of the competition.

Concacaf Champions Cup

Ibrahim Aliyu provided the assist to Houston Dynamo’s crucial goal in the 2-1 away defeat to St. Louis City in the first leg of the first-round meeting in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

United States-born Samuel Oluwabukunmi Adeniran led the line for Louis City.

Both teams will clash again next Wednesday to determine who will advance to the next round of the competition.