Osimhen bags brace … Iheanacho, Olayinka on target
It was another great weekend for Nigerian duo Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen in Europe, while Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho also returned to winning ways with their clubs. Anthony Nlebem takes a look at how Nigeria’s players performed for their various teams over the weekend.
**Spain**
*Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femeni)* – The in‑form Super Falcons star continued her brilliant goal‑scoring run, netting a hat‑trick as Barcelona Femeni thrashed Real Betis Women 7‑0 in the Spanish Women’s Primera División on Sunday. She came on in the 59th minute for Ana‑Maria Crnogorcevic and scored in the 61st, 71st and 90th minutes. The 28‑year‑old Nigerian striker now leads the league’s scoring chart with 17 goals, ahead of Levante’s Alba Redondo (16) and Real Madrid’s Esther González (15). Oshoala also recorded a hat‑trick in Barcelona’s 7‑0 demolition of Levante Las Planas on 26 January. Barcelona have extended their unbeaten run to 18 games and sit comfortably at the top of the table with 54 points, eight clear of second‑placed Real Madrid Women.
*Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid Women)* – Ajibade was an unused substitute as Atlético Madrid Women beat Sporting Club de Huelva Women 3‑1 in matchday 18.
*Toni Payne (Sevilla)* – The American‑born player of Nigerian descent featured for the full 90 minutes in Sevilla Women’s 1‑0 home win over Villarreal Women on matchday 18.
**Italy**
*Victor Osimpen (Napoli)* – The sensational striker scored a brace as Napoli dispatched Spezia 3‑0 in a spectacular Serie A fixture at the Stadio Alberto Picco. He struck in the 68th minute and added a second five minutes later, after Kvicha Kvaratskhelia had opened the scoring in the 47th. Osimpen becomes only the fourth Napoli player to reach 16 goals in the first 21 league games, joining Luis Vinicio (1955‑56), Edinson Cavani (2012‑13) and Gonzalo Higuaín (2015‑16). The win pushed Napoli’s title chase to 56 points from 21 matches, putting them on course for their first scudetto since 1989‑90.
*Isaac Success and Kingsley Ehizibue (Udinese)* – Both Nigerians started as Udinese suffered a 1‑0 away defeat to Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
*Ola Aina (Torino)* – The defender made his 12th league appearance, starting in Torino’s 1‑0 home win over Udinese. Returning from injury, Aina impressed on the right flank and provided the assist for Yann Karamoh’s decisive goal in the 50th minute. He received a yellow card four minutes before full‑time.
*Cyriel Dessers (Cremonese)* – The Nigerian striker played the full match as Cremonese lost 2‑0 at home to Lecce. Despite a superb outing against Roma earlier, he could not replicate that form. Fellow countryman David Okereke, Cremonese’s leading scorer with five goals, remained an unused substitute.
*Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli)* – The defender featured for Empoli in a 2‑0 defeat to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, impressing at right‑back before being substituted for Petar Stojanović in the 82nd minute.
*Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)* – The Nigeria international started but was unable to score as Atalanta fell 1‑0 to Sassuolo at the Stadio Mapei. He was replaced by Jeremie Boga after 46 minutes. Lookman has been prolific for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, with 12 goals in 20 league appearances this season.
**France**
*Folarin Balogun (Reims)* – The Arsenal loanee played the full 90 minutes for Reims in a 0‑0 Ligue 1 draw with Auxerre at the Stade de l’Abbé‑Deschamps. The 21‑year‑old, of Nigerian descent, tops the French league scoring chart with 14 goals in 21 appearances.
*Moses Simon (Nantes)* – Simon was not in the squad that travelled to Stade François‑Coty for Nantes’ 2‑0 Ligue 1 win over AC Ajaccio. He has featured in 19 matches this season, contributing five goals and two assists.
*Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC Women)* – The Super Falcons goalkeeper started as Paris FC Women beat Dijon FCO Women 2‑0 in the Division 1 Féminine, delivering several brilliant saves.
*Calvin Bassey (Ajax)* – The defender was an unused substitute as Ajax comfortably beat Cambuur 5‑0 to secure back‑to‑back Eredivisie victories under new manager John Heitinga. Since his summer move from Rangers, Bassey has struggled for form, with one goal in 17 league appearances.
**England**
*Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)* – Iheanacho earned man‑of‑the‑match honors, scoring a header and providing two assists in Leicester’s 6‑3 Premier League win at Villa Park, their first league victory since November 2022. The goal ended a 273‑minute Premier League drought dating back to September 2022.
*Alex Iwobi (Everton)* – Iwobi played the entire match as Everton defeated league leaders Arsenal 1‑0 at Goodison Park, delivering the Toffees’ first league win in 11 games under new manager Sean Dyche.
*Onuachu, Samuel Edozie, Joe Aribo (Southampton)* – Onuachu made his Southampton debut as a second‑half substitute in a 3‑0 loss to Brentford, while 20‑year‑old Samuel Edozie played 65 minutes before being replaced by Theo Walcott. Aribo remained an unused substitute.
*Frank Onyeka (Brentford)* – The injured striker was absent as Brentford thrashed Southampton 3‑0, still recovering from a thigh injury.
*Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)* – Akpom added two goals, one in each half, as Middlesbrough beat Blackpool 3‑0, taking his Championship tally to 16. Paddy McNair also scored as Boro stayed third, now ten points behind second‑placed Sheffield United after nine wins in eleven games.
*Samuel Kalu and Tobi Ademeye (Watford)* – Kalu was unavailable due to injury. Ademeye came on as a second‑half substitute for Matheus Martins in Watford’s 2‑2 draw with Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
*Femi Azeez (Reading)* – The British‑born striker, eligible for Nigeria, entered as a substitute in the 67th minute and helped Reading come from two goals down to draw 2‑2 with Watford.
**Czech Republic**
*Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague)* – The Super Eagles forward started and scored the second goal in Slavia Prague’s 2‑0 victory over Pardubice at the Doležal Stadium, bringing his league tally to six in 12 appearances.
**Spain (Men)**
*Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)* – The winger started as Villarreal suffered a 3‑1 shock defeat to Elche at the Estadio Martínez Valero. He played almost the entire match, being substituted in the 90th minute. This season he has scored only once in 19 league games.
**Saudi Arabia**
*Odion Ighalo (Al Hilal)* – Ighalo featured for 84 minutes as Al Hilal edged Wydad Casablanca 5‑3 on penalties in the Club World Cup, securing a semi‑final against Flamengo. He scored his second goal of the year, helping the Saudi side eliminate AS Roma from the competition.
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