Asisat Oshoala led the charge for Nigerian footballers in Europe with remarkable performances over the weekend, highlighted by her impressive back-to-back hat-tricks in Spain. The Super Falcons striker stole the spotlight on Sunday as she scored three goals in Barcelona Femení’s 6-0 victory against Granadilla Tenerife Sur Women in their Primera Division match. This marked Oshoala’s second hat-trick in just four days, following her three-goal display in a midweek match against Levante Las Planas. In the recent game, she netted goals in the 8th, 12th, and 27th minutes, contributing significantly to Barcelona’s dominance. With 13 goals in 15 appearances this season, Oshoala is the top scorer for Barcelona Femení, and her performance has helped the team maintain its position at the top of the league.
In contrast, fellow Super Falcons striker Rasheedat Ajibade had a quieter weekend. Coming off the bench in the 83rd minute, Ajibade could not influence the game as Atletico Madrid Femenino settled for a 1-1 draw against Sevilla Femenino. Despite her limited impact, Ajibade has scored four goals in 17 league appearances this season, and Atletico remains in contention for Champions League qualification, currently sitting fourth in the table.
In England, Kelechi Iheanacho made a significant contribution to Leicester City’s FA Cup campaign by scoring the winning goal in their 4th round match against Walsall. Iheanacho, who came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, found the net just five minutes later, marking his second goal in the FA Cup this season. However, he has struggled in the Premier League, with only one goal in 14 appearances. Meanwhile, Wilfred Ndidi was sidelined due to injury. Joe Aribo also played a full match for Southampton, who advanced to the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-1 victory over Blackpool.
In the Championship, Chuba Akpom scored his 14th goal of the season, helping Middlesbrough secure a 2-0 win over Watford. This victory marked a significant turnaround for Middlesbrough, who have seen a resurgence under manager Michael Carrick. Leslie Adekoya, a young player of Nigerian descent, made headlines by scoring his first senior goal for Accrington Stanley in their FA Cup match against Leeds United, becoming the youngest player to score in this season’s competition.
In Italy, Ademola Lookman continued his fine form by scoring in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Sampdoria, bringing his Serie A tally to 12 goals this season. Lookman’s performance has been crucial for Atalanta as they aim for European qualification. David Okereke also found the net for Cremonese against Inter Milan, although his goal was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat. William Troost-Ekong made his debut for Salernitana, contributing to their 2-1 victory over Lecce.
In the Turkish Süper Lig, Bright Osayi-Samuel was absent from Fenerbahçe’s squad due to injury, while David Babajide ended a three-month goal drought by scoring in Adana Demirspor’s 2-1 win over Sivasspor. Ahmed Musa came on as a late substitute for Sivasspor but could not make a significant impact as his team struggles at the bottom of the league table.
Overall, the weekend showcased a mix of outstanding individual performances and challenges for Nigerian footballers across Europe, reflecting their ongoing contributions to their respective teams.
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