Several Nigerian players were in action across the globe in various leagues in the world on Saturday. Here on the Nigerian player’s scorecard, footballlive.ng takes a look and keeps track of how they all performed.
In Belgium, Former U-17 FIFA World Cup winner Taiwo Awoniyi continued his goalscoring form as he once again led Royal Excel Mouscron to a 1 – 0 win over Lokeren in The Belgian Pro League on Saturday. Awoniyi scored the game’s only goal in the 52nd minute of the game and almost made it 2 – 0 in the 81st minute. The Nigerian international was handed a yellow card in the 22nd minute for a bookable offense.
Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel was in action for Middlesbrough as they defeated Queens Park Rangers 2 – 0 in the English Championships on Saturday. Obi played all 90 minutes and was instrumental in solidifying the midfield in another classy performance for the Riverside club. Jonathan Howson scored the team’s first goal in the 2nd minute while the second goal was scored by Ashley Fletcher in the 32nd minute.
Nigerian internationals Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi were both in action for Leicester City but were unable to save the team from an embarrassing 4 – 1 home loss to in form Crystal Palace in the EPL on Saturday.
Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was in action for all 90 minutes in his 27th game of the season and was handed a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor in the 36th minute while his compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho was introduced into the game in the 74th minute for Youri Tielemans.
In the English Championship, Super Eagles, defender Semi Ayaji was instrumental in salvaging a point for his team Rotherham United as they played out a 1 – 1 draw away from home against Reading on Saturday. The Nigerian international scored his team’s equalizer in the 79th minute after the home side had taken the lead through another player of Nigerian descent Ovie Ejaria in the 31st minute.
Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo was in action for Stoke City in the English Championship in the team’s 1 – 1 draw at home against Aston Villa. Sam Vokes scored the opener for the home side in the fifth minute while Albert Adomah’s goal in the 62nd minute ensured that both teams shared the spoils.
Etebo was among the four players who were booked in the game by the referee. Etebo was booked in the 57th minute.
Nigerian defender Ola Aina was in action for Torino in the team’s 2 – 0 win over Atalanta in the Italian Serie A on Saturday. The Super Eagles Utility defensive player was on for the entire duration of the game.
Former Nigerian U-23 striker Sadiq Umar was a 66th-minute substitute for Perugia in their 1 – 0 home loss to 10-man Cosenza in the Italian Serie B on Saturday. Umar who joined the team from Roma after an unsuccessful stint with Rangers in the first half of the season was brought on for Han Kwan Song but was unable to change the course of the match.
In Germany Nigerian international Anthony Ujahwas in action for Maniz 05 in their 3 – 0 over Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga on Saturday. Ujah made way in the 64th minute for Jean Philipe Mateta.
Nigerian midfielder and former Enugu Rangers star Obinna Nwobodo was on the score sheet as Ujpest trashed Diosgyori VTK 5 – 0 in the Hungarian OTB BANK Liga on Saturday. The former national U20 star scored his team’s opening goal in the 5th minute of the one-sided encounter. Nwobodo joined Ujpest from Enugu Rangers in 2017.
