Keeping up with Nigerian players: In-form Ighalo bags brace — and so does Nwankwo

Nigerian players abroad showed quality for their clubs over the weekend.

While some grabbed the headlines for being instrumental to their club’s overall performance, a reverse was the case for others.

TheCable has a lowdown on how they performed:

Belgium

Peter Olayinka scored the match winner for Zulte Waregem in their 2-1 win over Royal Excel Mouscron. The hosts missed the service of Taiwo Awoniyi who wasn’t named in the matchday squad.

Chuba Akpom was on the scoresheet for St Truiden as they won 4-1 against Oostende. Joseph Akpala was on the losing side.

Moses Simon accounted for the assist that resulted in Gent’s only goal in their 3-1 loss to Standard Liege. He was replaced by his compatriot Samuel Kalu. Uche Agbo who played for Liege was substituted in the 46th minute.

China

In the Chinese Super League, Odion Ighalo netted a brace for Changchun Yatai who defeated Shanghai SIPG FC 2-1.

England

Hope Akpan found the back of the net for Burton Albion who humbled Sammy Ameobi’s Bolton Wanderers 2-0.

It was a bad day at the office for Ola Aina’s Hull City who lost 2-0 to Cardiff City. The on-loan Chelsea defender played the entire match.

Crystal Palace thrashed Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi’s Leicester City 5-0 on Saturday.

In a nail-biting game, Chelsea pipped Swansea City 1-0. Victor Moses earned a booking.

Despite the presence of Sone Aluko, Reading couldn’t withstand the firepower of Ipswich Town and crashed 4-0.

Alex Iwobi featured for Arsenal as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United.

France

Chidozie Awaziem warmed the bench for the entirety of Nantes’ 2-0 defeat to Lyon.

Germany

Anthony Ujah was an unused substitute in Mainz’s 3-0 thumping of Leipzig. Leon Balogun wasn’t listed.

Italy

Simy Nwankwo bagged a brace for Crotone who destroyed Sassuolo 4-1.

Netherlands

Kelechi Nwakali’s well-struck spot-kick proved to be a consolation for MVV Maastricht who fell 2-1 to Jong Ajax.

Sparta Rotterdam lost 3-1 to hosts Feyenoord with Fred Friday on target for the visitors.

Lanky striker Umar Sadiq was an 85th-minute entrant for NAC Breda who walloped Heerenveen 3-0.

Russia

At the Saint Petersburg Stadium, CSKA Moscow earned a 0-0 draw against Zenit St. Petersburg. Super Eagles star Ahmed Musa featured for CSKA.

Spain

The duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Imoh Ezekiel saw full action in Las Palmas’ 1-1 draw at Espanyol.

Former Golden Eaglets midfielder Ramon Azeez tasted action for 67 minutes as Lugo forced Osasuna to a 1-1 draw.

Switzerland

In a six-goal thriller that saw FC Zurich and Sion share the spoils, Stephen Odey warmed the bench for Zurich for the entirety of the match.

Turkey

Yeni Malatyaspor settled for a 0-0 with Akhisarspor. Azubuike Okechukwu was substituted in the 87th minute while Sincere Seth wasn’t listed for Yeni.

Hosts Osmanlispor were pummelled 4-1 by Istanbul Basaksehir. Aminu Umar came into the fray in the second half. Injured Raheem Lawal wasn’t listed for the game.

Ukraine

In the Ukrainian Premier League, Olanrewaju Kayode struck the solitary goal for Shakhtar Donetsk who won 1-0 a Mariupol.