Monday, Babajide score again in Tenerife win
Dele-Bashiru also on target for Lazio
Super Falcons duo Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide can’t stop scoring in the Spanish Women’s top division, headlining another weekend of actions for Nigerian stars abroad, ABIODUN ADEWALE writes
SPAIN
MONDAY, BABAJIDE (TENERIFE)
Super Falcons duo Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide can’t stop scoring. The players were on target for Tenerife Women again on Sunday, helping them to a 2-1 away win at Valencia. After trailing by a goal against their hosts into the second 45 minutes, Babajide levelled matters from the spot in the 52nd minute for her seventh goal of the season. When it looked like the game was heading for a draw, Monday grabbed the winner in stoppage time with a deft finish after being played through by Linnea Laupstad for her 10th goal of the campaign and seventh in six games.
The win, a third consecutive for Tenerife moved them up sixth in the Liga F table with 29 points after 18 games.
CHRISANTUS UCHE (GETAFE)
Uche was taken off at halftime in Getafe’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Alaves for caution. The Nigerian midfielder was booked in the 40th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct and Getafe coach Jose Bordalas thought it right to protect the 21-year-old from a potential sending-off by taking him off at halftime. Uche has been consistent in the La Liga this season, featuring in all their 23 games so far with two goals and two assists.
UMAR SADIQ (VALENCIA)
Super Eagles forward Sadiq is still looking to break his duck in the La Liga. He made his third appearance at his new club Valencia, playing 32 minutes in their 2-0 win over Leganes. He joined Valencia on loan until the end of the season from Real Sociedad.
ITALY
FISAYO-DELE BASHIRU (LAZIO)
Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was on target as Lazio secured a dominant 5-1 victory over Monza at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Dele-Bashiru, who started on the bench, was introduced in the 65th minute, replacing Gustav Isaksen. The Nigerian international made an immediate impact, scoring in the 88th minute—just two minutes after Monza’s Stefano Sensi pulled one back. His goal capped off a commanding performance by Lazio, with Adam Marušić, Pedro, and Taty Castellanos also getting on the scoresheet. He now has three goals in the Serie A this season.
FRANCE
GABRIEL OSHO (AUXERRE)
After missing their last two games, Nigeria defender Osho returned to the starting lineup and played on the left side of a three-man defence as Auxerre were forced to a 2-2 draw at home by Toulouse. He has one goal in 14 games this season.
CYPRUS
ADEBAYO ADELEYE (PARALIMNI)
It’s back-to-back clean sheets for Adeleye in Cyprus as the Nigeria goalkeeper made three of three saves to help Paralimni to a 2-0 win over Nea Salamis on Sunday. He has now made 20 appearances for the club.
ENGLAND
TONI PAYNE (EVERTON)
After making two assists last week, Payne was played upfront as a false striker against Chelsea on Sunday but there wasn’t much the Super Falcons midfielder could do to save Everton from being knocked out of the Women’s FA Cup by the Blues. She played for 72 minutes but they lost 4-1.
SCOTLAND
CYRIEL DESSERS (RANGERS)
Dessers fired blanks as Rangers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. The striker has now failed to score in three consecutive games as well. Before the last three games, he had scored six goals in four games with a tally of eight plus two assists in the league.
TURKEY
FLOURISH SEBASTINE (GALATASARAY WOMEN)
Former Falconets striker, Sebastine scored her first goal for Galatasaray Women on Sunday in their 1-1 draw at home against Trabzonspor. She joined the Turkish club from French side Stade Reims last November but had yet to feature for them until Sunday.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (GALATASARAY)
Osimhen started upfront with Spanish striker Alvaro Morata but their partnership was cut short as the game between Galatasaray and Adana Demirspor was abandoned. With Galatasaray leading 1-0 thanks to a goal by Morata, the game took an awkward turn in the first half after a controversial call was made by the referee. Galatasaray entered the game looking to extend its winning streak following its 4-1 Cup win against Boluspor. However, they were unable to finish the game against Adana. The visitors opted to withdraw from the game, which was still 1-0.
BRIGHT OSAYI-SAMUEL (FENERBAHCE)
After sitting out their last three games, Osayi-Samuel came off the bench for his 15th Super Lig appearance of the season in Fenerbahce’s 2-0 win at Alanyaspor. The Nigerian defender featured for 21 minutes as they cut the gap on leaders Galatasaray to three points – at least until the leader’s game against Adana is completed.
