Monday 13th December 2021: Here’s a round-up of how some Nigerian players peformed for their various clubs abroad. A host of Nigeria players were on the score sheet over the weekend in their respective leagues in Europe but none may be happier than Sadiq Umar who ended his goal drought.
ENGLAND
Emmanuel Dennis, William Troost-Ekong (Watford), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Dennis equalled his best-ever league tally on Friday when he scored his seventh goal of the season in Watford’s 2-1 loss away at Brentford.
His previous best-ever scoring season had come during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns with Club Brugge where he found the back of the net seven times in 30 and 26 league games respectively.
However, his seventh goal in just 15 games for the Hornets means he has achieved the feat with fewer appearances.
The Nigerian has been directly involved in nine of Watford’s last 12 Premier League goals.
His compatriot Troost-Ekong gave away a penalty in the final minute of added time – an error that saw Watford suffered a fourth straight defeat.
Onyeka, meanwhile came on for Rico Henry in the 77th minute of the game and was cautioned in the 90th minute of the game. The game was Onyeka’s 14th of the season.
Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman (Leicester)
Wilfred Ndidi was in action for the entire duration of the game as Leicester City thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
The Foxes, who are currently facing a COVID-19 challenge at the club, were without Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman.
 Semi Ajayi (West Brom), Tom Dele-Bashiru, Ovie Ejaria (Reading)
Dele-Bashiru featured for the entire duration of Reading’s 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion who made it back-to-back Championship wins on Saturday.
Callum Robinson got the winner on 62 minutes to cement the Baggies’ place in third – and extend the Championship’s only unbeaten home record to 11 matches.
The game was Dele-Bashiru’s 20th league game of the season albeit scoring four times while Ejaria who missed the defeat has featured 14 times and scored twice.
Ajayi, however, missed the encounter through coronavirus. The Nigerian defender has made 15 games this term scoring just once.
Reading remains 21st in the Championship table, two points clear of danger, having won just two of their past 20 games going into Saturday’s home match against Luton Town.
SPAIN
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal)
Samuel Chukwueze was in action for 28 minutes as Villareal returned to winning ways in the LaLiga with a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
The Nigerian, who made his 100th league appearance for the club, came on for Yeremi Pino in the 62nd minute but was unable to register his name on the score sheet.
Chukwueze has scored three goals for the club in all competitions including the Champions League, LaLiga and Copa Del Rey.
Sadiq Umar (Almeria)
Almeria striker, Sadiq Umar, ended his seven-game goal drought in their 3-0 win over Real Zaragoza in the Spanish Segunda Division on Saturday.
The former AS Roma striker scored the opener for his side in the 61st minute as two more late goals from Alejandro Pozo and Largie Ramazani in the 86th and 91st minutes gave the league leaders a comfortable home win.
Sadiq has scored eight goals in 19 league games for the club this season.
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes)
Defender, Kenneth Omeruo, was an unused substitute in Leganes’ 1-1 home draw against Ponferradina on Sunday.
Omeruo who has made eight league appearances for the club this season has been unused in their last five games. Leganes are currently 17th in the Segunda table.
FRANCE
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Simon was the hero for Nantes on Friday as he grabbed the match-winner for the Canaries who came from two goals down to beat Lens 3-2 in a Ligue 1 game.
The Nigerian who came on for Willem Geubbels in the 70th minute ended his eight-game goal drought with a thunderous strike in the 90th minute after skipping past three defenders.
It was his second goal in 17 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term.
Early goals from David Costa and Arnaud Kalimuendo put Lens in what should have been a comfortable position in Nantes, but Kolo pulled one back three minutes after halftime, then equalised from close range in the 56th minute.
Quentin Merlin set up Simon to shoot to the top right corner for the winner in the 90th minute. The win sees Nantes climb to 10th – just two points behind Lens – with its seventh win of the season.
Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux)
Nigerian winger Samuel Kalu was not listed for Bordeaux in their 2-1 win over Troyes in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday due to illness. It is the fourth consecutive game the Nigerian has not been listed in a matchday squad for the French side.
Kalu has scored once and created one assist in 10 league games this season.
Terem Moffi (Lorient)
Terem Moffi fired blank in Lorient 4-1 loss to Metz on Sunday despite playing the entire duration.
The Nigeria striker has been going through a difficult time at the club having failed to hit the back of the net in three months despite the manager’s continued faith in him in recent games.
Moffi last scored for the side in their 2-1 win over Lille on September 10. He has since gone 12 league games without a goal.
ITALY
David Okereke, Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia)
Ebuehi played for 79 minutes for Venezia who denied Juventus a chance to claim a third successive win in Serie A after they were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Alvaro Morata broke the deadlock with a near-post finish from Luca Pellegrini’s cross but the hosts equalised through Mattia Aramu’s curling finish from the edge of the area.
The game was Ebuehi’s 10th league game of the season.
His compatriot Okereke who was not listed for the game due to injury has scored four times in 14 appearances for Venezia.
Isaac Success (Udinese)
Substitute Success was sent off in additional time as Udinese were held to a draw by AC Milan on Saturday.
It was the first time he was receiving the marching orders in his career.
The Nigerian striker who was making his eighth appearance in the Italian topflight division replaced Gerard Deulofeu in the 70th minute.
The 24-year-old was sent off for first blocking Mike Maignan’s clearance and then shoving Alessandro Florenzi to the ground.
Simy Nwankwo, Joel Obi (Salernitana)
Nigerian duo Simy Nwankwo and Joel Obi were both in action from start in Salernitana’s 4-0 defeat to Fiorentina in their Serie A clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday.
Simy was in action for 90 minutes in the game while Obi was replaced by Andrea Schiavone in the 62nd minute.
The former Crotone striker has scored once in 17 league appearances for Salernitana this season just as Obi has made 14 league appearances for his club in the current campaign.
Salernitana remains bottom of the table with eight points from 17 games.
Germany
Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin)
In-form Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi featured for 27 minutes in Union Berlin’s 1-0 loss to Greuther Furth in the German Bundesliga on Sunday.
Awoniyi who has scored nine league goals this season started from the bench but came on for Max Kruse in the 63rd minute.
Awoniyi could have grabbed the equaliser in the final minute of the game but failed to turn in Niko Gießelmann’s cross.
Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim)
Akpoguma made his 13th league appearance of the season as Hoffenheim extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to four games following a 2-1 win at Freiburg.
The Nigerian had goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to thank after making a smart second-half penalty save to deny Grifo after he had fouled Christian Gunter in the area.
Akpoguma was replaced by Pavel Kaderabek in the 68th minute seven minutes after he was cautioned.
TURKEY
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk)
Super Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa made his sixth substitute appearance of the season for Fatih Karagumruk who suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat at home to Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
Musa was introduced in the 63rd minute for Andrea Bertolacci. It was the 29-year-old’s 14th league appearance for Fatih Karagumruk this season.
HOLLAND
Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord)
Cyriel Dessers was in action for 21 minutes in Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw against FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday.
Dessers replaced Bryan Linssen in the 69th minute. The Nigerian was recently named the club’s player of the month for November.
Dessers has scored eight goals for the club in 18 league games.