By Koffi Raphael
ENGLAND
Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka made his second appearance for Brentford against Crystal palace.
Onyeka had a fizzing effort from distance saved by the Eagles goalie Vicente Guaita in the 63rd minute.
He was replaced in the 70th minute by Saman Ghoddos.
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi made his first start of the season for Everton on Saturday in their 2-2 draw at Leeds.
It was his second appearance of the season.
The Nigerian was deployed at the right side of the Toffees midfield. He was replaced in the 75th by Andros Townsend.
William Troost-Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Dennis were all handed their second appearance of the season in Watford’s 2-0 loss to Brighton.
Dennis did have the ball in the back of the net mid-way through the second half when he skipped past Lewis Dunk before finding the bottom corner, but the offside flag was up long before he unleashed his shot.
Semi Ajayi (West Brom)
Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi came on for Matthew Clarke in the 43rd minute of West Brom’s 2-1 win at Blackburn. It was his second substitute appearance of the season.
Tom Dele-Bashiru, Femi Azeez (Reading)
Nigerian duo Tom Dele-Bashiru and Femi Azeez featured for 84 and 62 minutes in Reading’s 2-1 loss to Coventry. It was the second appearance of the season for Dele-Bashiru in the English Championship since he arrived on loan from Watford.
ITALY
OLA AINA (Torino)
Nigeria wing-back Ola Aina played the entire duration of Torino’s 2-1 loss to Atalanta on Saturday. It was his first start of the Serie A.
JOEL OBI, SIMEON NWANKWO (Salernitana)
Nigeria midfielder, Joel Obi and striker Simeon Nwankwo, both played substitute roles in Salernitana’s 3-2 loss to Bologna in their 2021/22 Serie A opening campaign on Sunday.
Simy who came on for Milan Djuric in the 64th minute fired blank as the hosts inspired by Marko Arnautovic came from behind to land a memorable opening day win.
Obi came on for Leonardo Capezzi and played the last eight minutes of the game.
Both Nigerians joined the side this summer and they will be hoping to see the club stay afloat at the end of the season.
Simy who scored 20 league goals in 38 appearances for relegated Crotone will be hoping to transfer the form to his new club.
TURKEY
AMINU UMAR (Rizespor), AHMED MUSA (Fatih Karagumruk).
Aminu Umar came on for Erik Sabo in the 75th minute of Rizespor’s goalless draw with Fatih Karagumruk who parade Ahmed Musa for the entire duration of the encounter.
The Nigeria captain failed to add to his tally of one.
GERMANY
KEVIN AKPOGUMA (Hoffenheim), TAIWO AWONIYI (Union Berlin)
In Germany, Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma scored his first goal of the season for Hoffenheim in their 2-2 draw at home against in-form Union Berlin. Akpoguma leaped the highest in the 14th minute to head home Angelo Stille’s cross making the scoreline 1-1 after Niko Giesselmann had put the visitors in front in the 10th minute.
Akpoguma could do nothing about his in-form compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi in the colours of Union who grabbed a 47th minute goal to end the game at 2-2 after Jacob Bruun Larsen had put the hosts ahead in front in the 30th minute.
Awoniyi came off for Andreas Voglsammer in the 69th minute of the encounter as he continues his preparation for the Europa Conference League tie on Thursday.
AFEEZ AREMU (St Pauli), JAMILU COLLINS (Paderborn)
Jamilu Collins made his fourth appearance of the season for Paderborn who thrashed St Pauli 3-1 in a Bundesliga 2 game. The Nigerian left back has one assist to his name so far this season.
Aremu on his part, was an unused substitute for the game.
Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux)
Samuel Kalu returned to action after the health scare he suffered in the team’s 2-2 draw against Marseille last week featuring for nine minutes in Bordeaux’s 1-1 home draw against Angers in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday.
The Nigeria winger came on for Sekou Mara in the 81st minute and showed no signs of fatigue but his impact failed to yeild a goal for his team as they were held by the visitors who equalised through Romain Thomas in the 38th minute after Sekou Mara had put the hosts in front in the 10th minute.
Winger, Moses Simon, had a quiet game in Nantes 1-0 loss to Rennes in their third game of the season. Simon was taken off in the 46th minute and replaced by Roli Pereira.
Simon had been impressive for the club in their first two games of the season where they recorded a 1-1 draw against Monaco away from home and a 2-0 win over Metz.
Terem Moffi (Lorient)
Terem Moffi fired blank in Lorient’s 3-1 loss to Montpellier on Sunday.
HOLLAND
Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam)
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye conceded his second goal of the season in action for Sparta Rotterdam in their 1-1 draw with Heracles. The Nigerian goalie was beaten in the 77th minute by Delano Burgzorg.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Omoh Michael (Academica Clinceni)
Nigerian midfielder Omoh Michael provided an assist for Academica Clinceni’s first goal in their 2-2 draw away at Chindia Targoviste.
Michael who was on for the entire duration of the match has now made three appearances since he joined the club.
SAUDI ARABIA
Odion Ighalo (Al-Shabab)
Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, scored a brace in 10-man Al-Shabab’s 3-3 home draw against Ettifaq on Saturday in the Saudi Pro League.
Ighalo who say 90 minutes of action netted his goals in the 39th and 49th minutes while Ever Banega scored from the spot in the 45th minute but the visitors scored three goals in 10 minutes to level up the game.
