BACK IN THE GROOVE!

• Arokodare scores, misses penalty in Genk win
  Durosinmi nets brace for Plezn, Simon bags seventh Ligue 1 goal

After a tepid international break, Nigerian players returned to their clubs, picking things up from where they left it as they continue to push their ambitions abroad, ABIODUN ADEWALE recaps their actions

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (NANTES)

Back from international duty and scoring, Simon netted his seventh league goal of the season for Nantes on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to save the Canaries from a 3-2 defeat at Le Havre. After going down 2-1 into the break, the Nigerian forward restored parity for his side immediately after the restart but they were undone by an 88th-minute goal from the hosts. The result left Nantes in the 13th position with 27 points, three points above the relegation zone. Simon meanwhile is enjoying his best season yet in Europe with a 15-goal contribution for Nantes (seven goals and eight assists) in 25 games this season.

GABRIEL OSHO (AUXERRE)

Although snubbed for the last international window, Super Eagles defender, Gabriel Osho, was in action for Auxerre on Sunday in the Ligue 1, helping them keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over struggling Montpellier. The 26-year-old has been one of the most consistent players for the club this season, featuring for another 90 minutes and has one goal to his name this season.

ITALY

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)

Perhaps still held back by the uninspiring performance of the Super Eagles in their last game against Zimbabwe, Ademola Lookman failed to spark for Atalanta on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Fiorentina and lost more ground in the Serie A title race. In-form Fiorentina man Moise Kean scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of halftime. Lookman, who has 13 goals and five assists in 24 Serie A games this season was also substituted in the 55th minute.

SADIQ UMAR (VALENCIA)

Unused by the Super Eagles during the international break, Sadiq walked straight into the starting lineup at Valencia as they steered clear of the relegation zone in the LaLiga with a 1-0 win over Mallorca. Sadiq was involved for 75 minutes, 10 minutes after Los Ches had gained the lead. The 28-year-old joined Valencia in January and has revived his career in the La Liga with four goals in nine games.

EDNA IMADE (GRANADA WOMEN)

Imade was on for 88 minutes but she couldn’t rescue Granda Women from falling to a 2-0 defeat against Spanish women’s topflight giants Barcelona at home. The forward, who has been tipped for a Super Falcons call-up has 13 goals in 23 games this season.

CHIDERA EJUKE (SEVILLA)

After starting the last two games and scoring once on his return from injury, Ejuke was dropped to the bench by Sevilla coach Garcia Pimienta in their clash against Real Betis on Sunday. January signing and former junior international, Akor Adams who has only played 18 minutes for the club due to injury also started from the bench.

BELGIUM

RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)

The title race has entered the playoffs phase in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League and Nigerian midfielder Onyedika returned to the mix for Club Brugge as they began their title defence with a 2-0 win over Anderlecht on Sunday. The midfielder played the entire duration of the game.

TOLU AROKODARE (GENK)

Newly capped Super Eagles striker, Arokodare, was in the mix of a disallowed goal, missed a penalty but atoned with another goal as Genk began their title playoffs with a comfortable 4-0 win over Gent. The leading top scorer in the Belgium topflight thought he had scored in the 18th minute, but it was ruled out for a handball by referee Jan Boterberg. Five minutes later, he missed from 12 yards out after his teammate Jarne Steuckers saw his’ saved in the 16th minute.

Genk however found a way past their opponents before halftime and Arokodare doubled the advantage in the 50th minute with an easy finish. He has now scored 18 league goals this season, helping Genk maintain a three-point lead in the title race.

JORDAN TORUNARIGHA (GENT)

Also fresh from the international break with Nigeria, Torunarigha was back in the mix for Gent but he could not stop Arokodare and his teammates from putting four past them as the title race hots up. The 27-year-old defender has played 24 games for the club this season with one assist to his name.

CYPRUS

ADEBAYO ADELEYE (PARALIMNI)

Adeleye kept a second consecutive clean sheet and his eighth of the season as Paralimni recorded a 1-0 win over Omonia Aradippou on Sunday. The Super Eagles goalkeeper faced just one shot and prevented it from going in.

CZECH REPUBLIC

RAFIU DUROSINMI (PLEZN)

Lagos-born forward Durosinmi was on song for Victoria Plezn in their 4-2 away win against Sparta Prague, bagging a brace to push their rivals down to fourth in the table as they moved into the third spot.

The day began on a cautious note for Durosinmi who was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct after just 12 minutes. He however kept pushing and gave his side the lead before halftime with an excellent header. His second of the game restored their lead after the hosts found a way to level the scores. He now has four goals and one assist in eight games this season.

GREECE

BRUNO ONYEMAECHI (OLYMPIACOS)

After playing just 24 minutes for Nigeria during the break, Onyemaechi was dropped to the bench as Greek giants Olympiacos faced Panathinaikos on Sunday.

INDIA

STEPHEN EZE (JAMSHEDPUR)

In India, former Sunshine Stars and Super Eagles B defender Eze continued to make waves, scoring the opener for 10-man Jamshedpur in their 2-0 win over North East United in the second leg quarter-finals of the Indian Super League. They have now set up a semi-final clash against Mohun Bagan. The defender has four goals in 22 games this season.