It was goals galore for Nigerian stars abroad during the weekend with Samuel Chukwueze stealing the spotlight with his first Serie A goal for AC Milan, just as Super Falcons Stars also shone, ABIODUN ADEWALE writes
SUNDAY
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
Eight months after joining Serie A giants AC Milan from Villareal, Super Eagles winger, Samuel Chukwueze finally opened his league account in his 17th appearance for the club in the competition. His long wait came to an end in their 3-1 away win over Hellas Verona and the goal also came in style with a volley on the edge of the box. With one goal and one assist in the league now, the 24-year-old will hope to spark a replication of his form for Villareal in the La Liga where he scored 37 goals and made 31 assists in 207 games across all competitions.
MICHAEL FOLORUNSO (HELLAS VERONA)
Italian born midfielder of Nigerian descent, Folorunsho, couldn’t replicate his goal scoring form from last week as his club, Hellas Verona lost 3-1 at home against AC Milan on Sunday. Christian Pulisic, Theo Hernandez and Samuel Chukwueze were all on target for Milan while Verona’s only goal came from Tijjani Noslin.
ENGLAND
CHUKWUEMEKA, MADUEKE (CHELSEA)
Substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke snatched victory for the Chelsea in their 4-2 win over Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. After the Blues had taken a 2-0 lead, some sloppiness saw the visitors peg them back at 2-2. Mauricio Pochettino turned to the bench and brought on Chukwuemeka who is making a return from injury and slotted in after a clever flick from Cole Palmer while Madueke finished off the job with a long-range strike in added time. The goals were the first for both players in the competition. Madueke has also scored two times in 12 EPL appearances while Chukwuemeka has one league goal in six appearances. Both players have also represented England at youth levels and are eligible to play for Nigeria as well.
NDIDI, IHEANACHO (LEICESTER CITY)
Wilfred Ndidi played his third consecutive game for Leicester on Sunday since returning from a muscle injury. He was involved for 77 minutes as the Foxes lost 4-2 against Chelsea in the FA Cup quater-finals. His compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho was an unused substitute in the game.
SPAIN
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE (ATLETICO)
Ajibade came off the bench for Atletico Madrid Feminine in their league game against Granada on Sunday and played a crucial role in their 1-0 win. She still has four goals and four assists in 20 games this season, not missing any of their matches.
MONDAY, BABAJIDE (TENERIFE)
It was all gloom for Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide at home on Sunday as they were beaten 7-0 at the Campo de Fútbol Pablos Abril. While Babajide started the game, she was replaced by Monday in the 67th minute with the score at 6-0. Two minutes after coming on, Monday scored an own goal to complete the rout for their visitors.
GERMANY
NATHAN TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Tella was involved for eight minutes as Bayer Leverkusen continued their push to a first Bundesliga title with another 3-2 win over Freiburg. Xabi Alonso’s men still have a 10-point gap above Bayern Munich with Tella also on five goals and one assist in 17 appearances.
BELGIUM
RAPHEAL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Onyedika played another 90 minutes for Club Brugge but they lost 2-1 away at St. Truiden but despite the defeat, they have secured a place in the title playoffs as they are fourth in the table with 51 points after 30 games.
EJUKE, YUSUF (ANTWERP)
Chidera Ejuke and Alhassan Yusuf were involved for Antwerp in their 1-1 draw against Royale Union SG.
AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)
TURKEY
OLAWOYIN, AKINTOLA (RIZESPOR)
Ibrahim Olawoyin scored his fifth Super Lig goal in Rizespor’s 3-1 win over Gaziantep on Sunday. With the scoreline at 1-1 in the closing stages, the midfielder began the build up and was quick to race into the box to connect a teasing cross with a header to make the scoreline 2-1 for Rizespor while his provider, Altin Zeqiri scored the third goal in added time. Akintola who was making his sixth appearance for the club could not open his goal account after featuring for 83 minutes.
FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (HATAYASPOR)
One-cap Super Eagles midfielder, Dele-Bashiru, came on as a second half substitute, scored one and assisted another in Hatayaspor’s 3-0 win over Samsunspor. He replaced Massanga Matondoin the 56th minute and found the target for his fifth goal of the season in the 89th minute thanks to an assist from Rigoberto Rivas while he retuned the favour in added time for Hatayspor’s third goal and his third assist of the season.
KENNETH OMERUO (KASIMPASA)
Super Eagles defender, Omeruo played all minutes and was booked for a foul in their 4-3 loss at home to leaders Galatasaray. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has played all the duration of Kasimpasa’s five league game as they continue their fight for a place in Europe next season.
PAUL ONUACHU (TRABZONSPOR)
BRIGHT OSAYI-SAMUEL (FENERBAHCE)
USA
IFEOMA OUMONU (UTAH ROYALS)
Super Falcons striker Ifeoma Onumonu was on the losing side in the opening week of the National Women’s Soccer League on Sunday as her Utah Royals side lost 2-0 at home against Chicago Women.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)
Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi continued their fine form at club level as Fulham won 3-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspurs, with Bassey’s defensive prowess and Iwobi’s creative brilliance proving pivotal. Iwobi had a hand in Fulham’s second goal, while Bassey hit the woodwork before the Cottagers bundled home their third of the afternoon.
EMMANUEL DENNIS (WATFORD)
Dennis played the hero for Watford FC, netting the solitary goal and his third since making a return to the championship in a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Birmingham City FC.
FRANCE
TEREM MOFFI (NICE)
Striker, Moffi, impressed with a brace and guided OGC Nice to a thrilling 3-1 victory over RC Lens in Ligue 1. He has now scored nine league goals and also has two assists.
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE (PARIS FC)
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stole the show with another remarkable penalty save and a clean sheet, inspiring Paris FC to a dominant 4-0 away win against Guingamp. It was the 23-year-old’s sixth penalty save of the campaign. With her latest penalty heroics, Nnadozie has now kept an impressive five clean sheets across all competitions in the 2023/24 season so far for her French club.
MOSES SIMON (NANTES)
Flashy winger, Simon created three chances, but none was converted as Nantes fell to a disappointing 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Strasbourg.
SPAIN
TONI PAYNE (SEVILLA)
Super Falcons star Payne was mercurial in midfield for Sevilla as they strolled to an excellent 3 – 0 victory against Levante Las Planas at the Estadio Jesús Navas.
USA
UCHENNA KANU (RACING LOUISVILLE)
Super Falcons forward Uchenna Kanu scored on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 NWSL season, finding the net for Racing Louisville FC in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Orlando Pride.
MICHELLE ALOZIE (HOUSTON DASH)
Defender, Alozie played only 18 minutes in Houston Dash’s humiliating 5-1 defeat against North Carolina Courage.
NICOLE PAYNE (PORTLAND THORNS)
Nicole Payne made her NWSL debut for Portland Thorns FC, but it did not go as planned, as her team suffered a 5-4 loss to Kansas City Current.
Abiodun Adewale
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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