More goals came off the boots of Nigerian players at the weekend, as two strikers who were once teammates at Watford of England, Odion Jude Ighalo and Isaac Success led the way in hitting targets.
While Success snatched another goal in pre-season action with Watford, The Hornets’ former striker, Ighalo made it two in same number of matches, but it came in Changchun Yatai’s home 2-1 loss to Shandong Luneng at Changchun’s People Stadium.
Ighalo, who was wearing the captain’s armband, scored from close range on 24 minutes after receiving a pass from Fan Xiaodong.
Three minutes before half-time, Ighalo found himself one-on-one with the opposing keeper and looked odds on to score, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.
Also in China, John Mikel Obi returned to Tianjin Teda’s starting line-up against Chongqing Dangdai Lifan after serving a mandatory match suspension in midweek.
Mikel played as a right midfielder in his side’s 2-1 loss, as the Nigerian captain went the distance in his first appearance after the World Cup.
In England, Shrewsbury Town new signing, Fejiri Okenabirhie was yet again on the score-sheet for The Blues in a 3-2 loss to Brentford.
The former Arsenal youth team player made the most of a lofted pass into the area to smash home his chance in the top left corner of the goal, bringing the score to 1-1 after they initially fell behind.
Elsewhere, 18-year old right-back, Ifeanyi Ofoegbu got among the goals for Chesterfield in their 5-0 rout of Nuneaton at the Liberty Way Stadium.
The defender who was picked out in the box by teammate, Joe Rowley with 15 minutes left finished with aplomb, rattling into the roof of the net to make it 4-0.
In another pre-season encounter, goals from Success, Troy Deeney and Jerome Sinclair gave Watford a 3-1 victory over German club, Fortuna Düsseldorf in Bürgerau.
Success tapped home the opener for The Hornets after getting onto the end of an Andre Gray’s pass at the far post, while Joshua Maja netted a brace for Sunderland in a 6-0 rout of Scottish opponents, St Mirren at Paisley.
The teenager opened the scoring after 22 minutes, sending a well-cushioned finish in thanks to a pass from Chris Maguire before leaving Mirren goalkeeper, Craig Samson rooted to the spot when he arrowed in a 22-yard effort for his second.
