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.

Nigeria Super Eagles and Sevilla star Chidera Ejuke. Photo by IMAGO

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

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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.

Nigeria and Granada star Edna Imade. Photo by IMAGO

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.

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.

Nigeria and Atlético Madrid star Rasheedat Ajibade. Photo by IMAGO

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.

Nigeria Super Falcons and Everton star Toni Payne. Photo by IMAGO

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.

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad. From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.

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