France, Vietnam, China… how Nigerian players performed in 23 countries over the weekend

Victor Osimhen had a sensational performance to his French Ligue 1 debut for Lille Football Club on Sunday.

With matches played across the globe over the weekend, David Okereke continued his impressive performance as well as other Nigerians plying their trade abroad.

TheCable takes a look at how Nigerian players fared abroad over the weekend.

Austria

Bright Edomwonyi had a six-minute cameo for Austria Wien who dismantled Mattersburg 5-1.

25-year-old Yusuf Otubanjo is yet to taste league action this season as he was benched in LASK’s slim 1-0 victory vat Admira Moedling.

Ten-man Liefering were at the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat against SV Lafnitz.

Nigerian born trio Junior Chikwubuike Adamu, Brian Okoh and Karim Adeyemi were all handed starters shirts by Liefering boss Bo Svennson.

Sunday Faleye’s FC Wacker Innsbruck suffered a 2-0 loss to Floridsdorfer AC.

Faleye replaced Elvin Ibrisimovic in the 46th minute of action.

Belgium

Nigeria international David Okereke took his season goal tally to four in 176 minutes with a crucial strike against KV Oostende on Saturday. The game ended 2-0 in favour of Club Brugge.

Emmanuel Dennis was benched in the game.

Former Flying Eagles skipper Abdul Ajagun registered his name on the score sheet as Kortrijk humbled Cercle Brugge 3-1.

Imoh Ezekiel was an unused substitute at the Jan Breydel Stadion.

Stephen Odey came on as an 68th minute substitute for Genk in their 0-2 defeat at home to Zulte Waregem.

Godwin Saviour finished off a counter attack to make it 1-0 before second half strike from Brian De Keersmaecker saw Roesalare draw 1-1 with KFCO Beerschot-Wilrijk in the Belgian second tier.

Bulgaria

Defender Stephen Eze lasted the entire duration of the game for Lokomotiv Plovdiv who beat Arda Kardzhali 5-2.

China

Nigeria international Aaron Olanare Samuel netted a hat-trick in an eight-goal thriller as Sichuan Longfa continued their season in the Chinese League One in a 5-2 loss to Beijing BG.

In another thriller which ended 4-3 favour of Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, former Flying Eagles forward John Owoeri provided an assist for Shaanxi Changan.

Croatia

In an ill-tempered match that produced three red cards, Samuel Emem Eduok scored the only goal for nine-man Hajduk Split who fell 2-1 to 10-man Slaven.

At the Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek and NK Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0, with Iyayi Believe Atiemwen logging full throttle.

Attacking midfielder Iyayi has netted one goal in four appearances for Zagreb this season.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Liga, Peter Olayinka made his third appearance of the season as Slavia Praha pipped Slogan Liberec 1-0.

Denmark

OB pipped Randers FC 1-0 at the Nature Energy Park. Tosin Kehinde was introduced in the 85th minute of action.

England

Isaac Success was involved in 15 minutes action for Watford but could not help Javi Gracia’s side avoid a 0-3 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Midfielder Ayotomiwa Dele-Bashiru wasn’t dressed for the game due to injury.

Dominic Solanke came on for the last minute as AFC Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Sheffield United at the Vitality Stadium but compatriot was Jordon Ibe was an unused substitute.

Arsenal product Alex Iwobi was completely absent from Everton’s match day squad in their 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.

At King Power Stadium, Leicester City with Wilfred Ndidi starting in drew 0-0 with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ndidi went close with a well drilled shot.

Kelechi Iheanacho was among the players in the squad that watched proceedings from the bench for the whole duration of the game.

Manchester United made an emphatic start to the 2019-20 Premier League season by thrashing fellow top-four hopefuls Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, but the match was in the balance until a 16-minute blitz which saw Frank Lampard’s side blown away in his first match in charge of the club.

Two goals in the space of 95 seconds – from Anthony Martial and then a second for Rashford – essentially put the game to bed before Daniel James added the cherry on top with a debut strike off the bench.

Nigerian born Tammy Abraham hit the woodwork for the Blues at Old Trafford.

In the Championship, Sammy Ameobi replaced Albert Adomah in the 64th minute as Nottingham Forest held Leeds United to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Chuks Aneke was subbed on in the 69th minute and he made an impact with a fabulous strike for Charlton Athletic who won 3-1 against Stoke City.

On-loan Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo played the full match as Blackburn Rovers crashed 2-0 at Fulham.

The trio of Luke Amos, Eberechi Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel all started in Queens Park Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.

Eze played the full match, Luke Amos gave way in the 82nd minute and Osayi was booked in the 90th minute.

Moses Odubajo featured in full match as Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley 2-0.

Another Arsenal product Semi Ajayi picked up a booking for West Brom as they played out a 1-1 draw with Millwall.

Finland

Former Super Eagles star Taiye Taiwo started and was in action for 90 minutes in RoPS’ 2-1 victory at home to VPS.

Faith Obilor marshalled the back line for HJK as the Finnish club whipped FC Lahti 4-0.

France

Lille won 2-1 against Nantes thanks to a brace from Victor Osimhen who made a dream debut in the Ligue 1.

Samuel Kalu played all 90 minutes as Bordeaux lost 3-1 to Anger.

Friendly

Skillful winger Samuel Chukwueze found the back of the net in a thrilling game between Villarreal and Bologna. In a seven-goal thriller that the Yellow Submarines won, Samu struck a goal for the Spanish outfit.

Germany

Midfielder Steven Ukoh scored from the penalty spot for FC 08 Villingen who bowed 1-3 to Fortuna Duesseldorf at MS-Technologie-Arena.

Anthony Ujah fired a double for Union Berlin who walloped Halberstadt in the DFB Pokal.

Suleiman Abdullahi wasn’t listed for the game.

Holstein Kiel thrashed Salmrohr 6-0 with Emmanuel Iyoha coming came off the bench in the 77th minute for Kiel.

Paderborn went through 5-3 on penalties after they were by Rodinghausen 3-3. Jamilu Collins was thrown into the fray in the 111st minute. The Besiktas target scored in the shootout.

Hungary

Let’s go to the Diosgyori Stadion where Diosgyori VTK entertained Ujpest.
Obinna Nwobodo grabbed the winning goal for Ujpest who won 2-1. Vincent Onovo played upfront for the visitors.

Haruna Garba was on target in Debrecen’s 4-1 victory against Varda SE.

Garba was replaced by compatriot Tunde Adeniji in the 88th minute.

Ezekiel Henry’s Puskas FC Academy were had no answers to Fehervar’s firepower as they bowed to a 2-0 defeat.

Henty logged full match duration.

Japan

Former Odense forward Peter Utaka drew the curtain raiser for Ventforet Kofu who hurt Tokushima Vortis 2-0 in the J League 2.

Netherlands

At Abe Lenstra Stadion, Chidera Ejuke played for 78 minutes for Hereenveen as they claimed a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord.

Hilary Gong was absent for Vitesse who recorded a 2-0 win at Willem II.

Ten-man Roda JC Kerkrade forced Almere City FC to a draw at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

On-loan Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo couldn’t make his Roda debut as he was benched for the entirety of the Eerste Divisie week one fixture.

Norway

At Lerkendal Stadion, Samuel Adegbenro and Babajide remained on the bench for the entirety of Rosenborg’s 5-2 win against Tromsoe.

Sandefjord and Start drew goalless at the Komplett.no Arena.

Midfielder Afeez Aremu earned a 40th minute booking for Start.

Portugal

Defender Tyrone Ebuehi failed to make the cut in Benfica’s 5-0 massacre of Pacos de Ferreira.

Nigeria winger Abdoullahi Tanko appeared in the GD Chavez 18-man squad for the match day 1 of the Portuguese Segunda Liga season but could not make an appearances as they lost 3-0 to Nacional at the Estádio da Madeira (Funchal (Ilha da Madeira)) on Saturday.

Former Flying Eagles attacking midfielder Ibrahim Muazzam Alhassan featured for the hosts.

Christian Irobiso got some minutes under his best in Farense’s nail biting 3-1 victory over Casa Pia.

Stanley Awurum fired blank as Varzim settled for a 0-0 stalemate with UD Oliveirense.

Mafra edged out visiting Cova Piadade in a five-goal thriller. Femi Balogun played for Cova Paidade.

Russia

Blessing Benito Olabiran played as a substitute for FC Tambov who drew 2-2 at Orenburg.

Arsenal Tula recorded an impressive 1-0 win over UFA. Victor Alvarez converted from Goran Causic’s assist.

Sylvester Igboun was hauled off in the hour mark.

Brian Idowu was introduced in the 82nd minute for his first appearance in the competition, he conceded a free-kick for a foul on Yuri Bavin in the 88th minute.

Slovakia

Ex Sporting CP attacking midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim picked up a booking for Slovan Bratislava who annihilated Moravce 4-0.

Abdul Zubairu scored and inspired Trencin to a 2-1 win at home to DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda.

Slovenia

Nigeria international Stanley Amuzie was sent off for a second bookable offense as a disciplined Aluminij team pipped Bravo 1-0.

South Africa

Super Eagles number one goalkeeper at AFCON 2019, Daniel Akpeyi kept a clean sheet as Kaizer Chiefs picked a 1-0 victory over Black Leopards.

South Korea

Ighodaro Christian Osaguona opened his goal account for Jeju United who bowed 4-1 to Sangju Sangmu.

At the Suwon World Cup Stadium, Icheon United won 1-0 against Suwon Bluewings. Striker Lanre Kehinde fired blank for the winning team.

Vietnam

Finally, our journey takes us to V-League, with focus on the game between QNK Quang Nam and Ho Chi Minh City FC. Samson Kayode Olaleye plundered a brace in the game that ended 2-0 in favour of Quang Nam.