Nigerians abroad: Plumptre stars in Saudi, Sanusi solid for Porto, Ndidi missing for Besiktas

Nigeria's Ashleigh Plumptre delivered a player-of-the-match display as Al Ittihad powered past Eastern Flames with a ruthless 3-0 win in the Saudi Women’s Premier League on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Falcons defender was again at the heart of the action, producing two pinpoint assists in the opening half.

It continues Plumptre’s fine start to life in Saudi Arabia, following last week’s decisive contribution against Al Ula, when she wore the captain’s armband.

Hala Khashoggi gave Al Ittihad the breakthrough in the 19th minute before Plumptre teed up Algerian international Lina Boussaha for a clinical second just eight minutes later.

The pair combined again four minutes after, Plumptre threading another pass for Boussaha to make it 3-0 before the interval.

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Francisca Ordega, Plumptre’s Nigerian compatriot, entered the fray in the 65th minute as Al Ittihad calmly saw out the contest.

The victory temporarily lifts them into second place, level on six points with leaders Al Nassr but behind on goal difference. The two sides face off in a top-of-the-table clash on September 27.

Elsewhere, Nigerian players across Europe had mixed fortunes.

In Belgium, Super Eagles youngster Benjamin Fredrick came off the bench for FCV Dender but could not prevent a 3-0 defeat to Gent.

The hosts were already two goals up before Fredrick’s 57th-minute introduction, and Algerian midfielder Abdelkahar Kadri added a third late on to complete the rout.

Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi enjoyed a brighter evening in Portugal. Introduced after the break, he helped the champions ease past Rio Ave 3-0.

Goals from Pablo Rosario and Samu Aghehowa, both set up by Gabri Veiga, gave Porto a first-half cushion before Veiga himself sealed the win.

The result extended Porto’s perfect start to six matches, opening up a six-point gap at the top.

In Turkey, Anthony Dennis featured throughout as Goztepe stunned Besiktas 3-0. German-Nigerian defender Felix Uduokhai lined up for Besiktas, but Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was absent from the matchday squad.

Germany saw Oladapo Afolayan make a cameo for St Pauli in their 2-0 defeat to Stuttgart, while in Spain, Umar Sadiq was left out entirely as Real Sociedad slumped 3-1 at Real Betis.

Plumptre, though, will take the spotlight for now. Two assists, three points, and another commanding display as her influence keeps growing in Saudi football.