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Olusegun bags first-half hat-trick and first career red card; Onuachu, Aribo, Akinsanmiro crash in England, Italy

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Osamu Oba
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Nigerian footballers had a dramatic night across Europe and Asia on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with contrasting fortunes marking their performances, Soccernet.ng reports. 

England: Southampton Fall to Liverpool

Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu featured for Southampton as the Saints were eliminated from the League Cup following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Football – 2023 / 2024 Emirates FA Cup – Round Five – Liverpool vs Southampton – Anfield – Wednesday 28th February 2024 Joe Aribo of Southampton heads at goal. Photo Credit – IMAGO

Aribo started the game and played until the 84th minute, while Onuachu was introduced in the 83rd. Despite their efforts, Liverpool’s superior firepower proved decisive.

Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliot found the net for the Reds, while Cameron Archer’s second-half strike provided only consolation for the home side.

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Football – FA Premier League – Southampton FC v Liverpool FC SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – Sunday, November 24, 2024: Liverpool s captain Virgil van Dijk L challenges Southampton s Paul Onuachu during the FA Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary s Stadium. Photo by David Rawcliffe/IMAGO

Italy: Sampdoria Crumble Against Roma

In Italy, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro’s Sampdoria endured a humbling 4-1 defeat to AS Roma in the Coppa Italia.

Akinsanmiro featured for 78 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, but his exit marked the end of Sampdoria’s resistance.

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December 18, 2024, Rome, Italy: Evan Ndicka of A.S. Roma and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro of U.C. Sampdoria seen in action during the Frecciarossa Italian Cup round of 16 match between A.S. Roma and U.C. Sampdoria at the Olympic Stadium. Final Score A.S. Roma 4:1. Photo Credit- IMAGO

Artem Dovbyk’s brace and Tommaso Baldanzi’s strike had already put Roma in command, with Gerard Yepes scoring Sampdoria’s only goal.

Moments after Akinsanmiro’s substitution, Eldor Shomurodov added a fourth to seal the victory for Roma.

Malaysia: Olusegun’s Hat-Trick and Dismissal

In Malaysia, Ifedayo Olusegun was the star of the night as PDRM FC thrashed Kelantan Darul Naim 5-0 in a Super League clash at Selayang Municipal Stadium.

Olusegun delivered a sensational first-half hat-trick, scoring in the 5th, 32nd, and 39th minutes.

However, his night took a turn when he was sent off after a collision during a goal attempt. It is the first time in Olusegun’s career that he would be shown a red card.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, PDRM remained dominant, with Muhammad Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi scoring twice in the second half.

The result lifted PDRM to fifth in the league table, while Kelantan remained second from the bottom.

Olusegun, 33, now has eight goals in 13 league appearances for PDRM this season.

Only Darul Ta’zim ace Bérgson (with 21 goals) and Kuala Lumpur’s Paulo Josué (11) have more goals than Olusegun in the Malaysian Super League this term.