Nigerian stars endure tough games in Europe
It was a matchday to forget for most Nigerian players in action across Europe’s top leagues, with several suffering heavy defeats while others struggled for playing time, PETER AKINBO writes
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
ALEX IWOBI, CALVIN BASSEY (FULHAM)
The Nigerian duo had a day to forget as Fulham suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. Iwobi, who started on the wing, struggled to make an impact before being substituted in the 80th minute for Rodrigo Muniz.
Bassey played the full 90 minutes in defence but couldn’t prevent the Cottagers from failing to register a single shot on target for the first time since May 2021.
JOE ARIBO, PAUL ONUACHU (SOUTHAMPTON)
Aribo was deployed in an unfamiliar defensive role as Southampton’s Premier League struggles continued with a 4-0 thrashing by Brighton. The midfielder played the full match while Onuachu came on for the final 18 minutes, replacing Cameron Archer.
The defeat leaves Saints rooted to the bottom, eight points behind Leicester and 13 from safety with just 12 games remaining.
SEMI AJAYI (WEST BROM)
Ajayi’s afternoon was cut short when he was forced off with an injury in the 41st minute, replaced by Mason Holgate in West Brom’s 2-0 victory over Oxford United. Despite his early departure, the Baggies secured the win through Alex Mowatt’s early strike and John Swift’s stoppage-time goal to climb to fifth in the Championship.
EMMANUEL DENNIS (BLACKBURN)
Dennis was introduced as a 56th-minute substitute but couldn’t prevent Blackburn from falling to a 3-0 defeat at Swansea City. The loss came just five days after manager Luke Williams’ sacking following a run of eight defeats in 10 games.
SPAIN
UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)
Sadiq started for Real Sociedad but was substituted in the 74th minute as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla. Julian Alvarez’s first-half double and Angel Correa’s late strike condemned La Real to defeat as they remained in the relegation zone.
GERMANY
FRANK ONYEKA (AUGSBURG)
Onyeka featured for 58 minutes before being replaced by Arne Maier as Augsburg secured an impressive 3-0 away victory at Borussia Monchengladbach, thanks to Alexis Claude-Maurice’s hat-trick.
VICTOR BONIFACE (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Boniface continued his return from injury with a seven-minute cameo, replacing Patrik Schick in the 83rd minute of Leverkusen’s routine 2-0 win at bottom club Holstein Kiel.
His compatriot Nathan Tella missed out through injury as goals from Schick and Amine Adli before half-time maintained their five-point lead at the top.
ITALY
FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (LAZIO)
Dele-Bashiru’s evening ended prematurely when like Ajayi in England, he was also forced off with an ankle injury in the 41st minute of Lazio’s goalless draw at Venezia.
The midfielder, who had completed 24 of 26 passes and recorded 30 touches before his withdrawal, could now face a spell on the sidelines that may rule him out of Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe next month.
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
Chukwueze was handed just two minutes of action, coming on in the 88th minute as Milan suffered a 2-1 defeat at Torino. An embarrassing own goal and a quickly-taken free-kick condemned the Rossoneri to defeat despite Tijjani Reijnders’ equalizer, compounding their misery after their midweek Champions League exit.
FRIDAY
ENGLAND
WILFRED NDIDI (LEICESTER)
Super Eagles midfielder Ndidi endured a torrid evening as Leicester’s survival hopes suffered another significant blow following their 4-0 thrashing by Brentford at the King Power Stadium. The Nigerian played 77 minutes before being replaced by Oliver Skipp as the Foxes suffered their sixth straight Premier League home defeat without scoring – a top-flight record within a single season. Goals from Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Fabio Carvalho condemned Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s side to their 10th defeat in 11 games, leaving them second-bottom and two points from safety.
KELECHI IHEANACHO (MIDDLESBROUGH)
Iheanacho’s difficult season continued as Middlesbrough slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 at Bristol City. The striker played 83 minutes but couldn’t prevent his side from surrendering their lead after Tommy Conway’s first-half opener. Substitute George Earthy’s double piled more pressure on Boro boss Michael Carrick as they remained 11th in the Championship.
