Eagles in Europe: Awoniyi scores for Forest as Boniface shines in Germany

After a lengthy break and deserved rest of the off-season, club football has resumed in earnest as leagues across Europe reboot for another captivating campaign.

Nigerian footballers were not left out of the net-bursting performances in Europe, with a few of them putting in significant displays for their various clubs.

TheCable takes a look at Nigerian footballers who made impacts for their respective clubs over the weekend.

In the English Premier League (EPL), Taiwo Awoniyi scored the consolation goal for Nottingham Forest in a 2-1 loss to Arsenal on Saturday.

The 25-year-old came in as a substitute in the 72nd minute after the Gunners had established a two-goal lead.

He made his impact on the game ten minutes later. The bulky striker started a counterattack with Anthony Elanga and continued the run that culminated in him finding space between two defenders to slot the winger’s pass into the back of the net.

Awoniyi has now scored in five EPL matches in a row, netting seven goals in the sequence.

In England’s Championship, Semi Ajayi was on target as West Brom defeated Swansea City 3-2 in the season’s second game.

The 29-year-old defender scored the game’s opening goal in the 18th minute after a pinball situation presented with an opportunity to stroke the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

The strike was the 17th league goal of his career.

In Germany, Victor Boniface was among the scorers in Bayer Leverkusen 8-0 routing of Teutonia Ottensen in the first round of the DFB Pokal.

The game was the 22-year-old Nigerian’s competitive debut for the German club, and he was off the mark in the 22nd minute with a powerful left-footed shot off an excellent team build-up.