Nigeria’s Ejuke, Payne shine with assists for Sevilla, Everton as Imade fires Granada to Espanyol win

Nigeria internationals Chidera Ejuke and Toni Payne showed their creative brilliance on Sunday, providing key assists in La Liga and the Women's Super League, while Edna Imade ended her goal drought in style for Granada, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ejuke made an instant impact off the bench, registering his first La Liga assist as Sevilla cruised to their biggest win of the season — a dominant 4-0 away victory over Real Valladolid.

With Sevilla already 3-0 up, thanks to Isaac Romero’s strike and a brace from Juanlu Sánchez, Ejuke was introduced in the 75th minute.

The Super Eagles winger wasted no time, leading a counterattack before setting up Dodi Lukébakio, who slotted home from close range.

READ MORE: Chidera Ejuke: Sevilla applaud the new club records Super Eagles star set this season

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Nigeria's Imade fires Granada to comeback win

Over in the Spanish Primera División Femenina, Nigerian forward Edna Imade ended a four-game goal drought to propel Granada to a 2-1 comeback win over Espanyol.

Espanyol clung to a first-half lead before Imade struck in the 64th minute to level the score. The goal — her 12th of the season — seals her place as the highest-scoring Nigerian in the Spanish top flight, surpassing Gift Monday’s 10-goal tally. She now sits second in the league’s overall scoring charts, trailing only Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor, who has 15 goals.

Ariadna Mingueza completed Granada’s turnaround a few minutes later with the winning strike.

READ MORE: Conceived in Benin, born in Morocco, raised in Spain: Edna Imade could be Nigeria’s next attacking weapon

Meanwhile, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade came on as a second-half substitute but couldn't inspire Atlético Madrid to victory, as they were held to a goalless draw by Deportivo de La Coruña.

Barcelona lead the league with a perfect 54 points from 19 games, five points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Ajibade’s Atlético Madrid sit fourth with 34 points, while Monday’s UD Tenerife and Imade’s Granada are level in sixth place with 30 points each.

Nigeria's Payne assists in Everton's narrow defeat to Chelsea

In the Women's Super League, Super Falcons playmaker Toni Payne provided Everton’s only assist in a 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.

After a goalless first half, Payne set up French forward Odette Gago in the 51st minute to hand Everton the lead.

However, Colombia's Mayra Ramírez equalised for Chelsea ten minutes later, before Lauren James sealed the win with a dramatic 93rd-minute strike.