It was a very good weekend for some Super Eagles players, who impressed at their clubs.
Here is how they and others performed in their respective European sides.
Chidozie Awaziem, Nantes
Awaziem continued to impress on loan in the Ligue 1, and was yet again in good form for his club, Nantes.
He was one of his side’s best on the pitch, but he and his teammates were made to share to spoils after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rennes.
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Germany
Leon Balogun, Mainz 05
Central defender, Leon Balogun was missing in action for his German outfit, Mainz 05.
Balogun missed his club’s 2-0 loss to Augsburg due to an injury, which has blighted his season so far.
Italy
Joel Obi, Torino
Another Super Eagle who did not feature for his club his midfielder, Joel Chukwuma Obi.
Obi missed Torino’s 2-1 defeat at Atalanta due to an injury.
Spain
Brown Ideye, Malaga
Already relegated Malaga finally gave their fans something to smile about after they ended their poor run of three consecutive defeats with a 2-0 win over a difficult Real Sociedad side.
The LaLiga side achieved the result with their Nigerian striker, Ideye, starting from the bench, before the AFCON winner came on in the 78th minute with his side already 2-0 ahead.
Oghenekaro Etebo & Imoh Ezekiel, Las Palmas
The duo of Etebo and Ezekiel are the latest Nigerians to suffer relegation in the Spanish league, after their club, Las Palmas, were humiliated at home by Alaves.
With six rounds of matches to play…@RayoVallecano & @RealSporting lead the race for promotion from #LaLiga123 ⚡ pic.twitter.com/MsMPD4X1zB
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) April 22, 2018
With both Nigerians starting, the visitors put four goals past the sorry Las Palmas team. But while Etebo was his side’s star player and lasted the duration of the game, Ezekiel was on for 71minutes.
England
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal
Arsenal returned to winning ways courtesy of a comprehensive defeat of their visitors, West Ham United. The Gunners, however, were without their Nigerian playmaker, Iwobi, as they thrashed the Hammers 4-1 at the Emirates.
Victor Moses, Chelsea
Moses put in a good shift, as Chelsea overcame a difficult Southampton side 2-0 at Wembley to seal a place in the final of the Emirates FA Cup against Manchester United.
Tough game today but through to the final! Come on! Our fans were the 12th man today amazing support at Wembley #CFC pic.twitter.com/83Nlf6VdTq
— Victor Moses (@VictorMoses) April 22, 2018
Moses started and finished the game, and was one of his side’s better players on Sunday at Ashton Gate.
Ola Aina, Hull City
Aina lasted just 44minutes in Hull City’s remarkable 5-5 draw at Bristol City.
Aina was replaced by compatriot, Fikayo Tomori, who went on to score his first goal for the club.
Belgium
Uche Agbo, Standard Liege
An odd weekend it was for Agbo, who was a spectator as his Belgian side, Liege, played out an entertaining 4-4 draw at Club Brugge.
Simon Moses, Gent
Simon was another Nigerian missing in action in Belgium, with the wing wizard conspicuously absent from the Gent team that lost 2-1 at Sporting Charleroi.
Israel
John Ogu, Anthony Nwakaeme, Hapoel Beer Sheva
Forgotten Super Eagle, Anthony Nwakaeme, has ended his goal drought, after helping Beer Sheva to a comfortable 5-1 win over Maccabi Netanya.
סיום המשחק: הפועל ב”ש מביסה את מכבי נתניה ופותחת זמנית פער של 7 נקודות בפסגת ליגת העל, מכבי נתניה – הפועל ב”ש 5:1 https://t.co/IWujCdOW0F pic.twitter.com/ngDoZXS1gu
— ONE (@ONE_CO_IL) April 22, 2018
Nwakaeme netted a brace, his 9th league goal of the season, with fellow Nigerian, Ogu also on parade as the Israeli champions convincingly dispatched their hosts.
Russia
Ahmed Musa, CSKA Moscow
Leicester City on loan forward, Ahmed Musa, was in superb form for his Russian side, CSKA Moscow, inspiring them to a 2-1 win over FC Krasnodar.
Full time: #CSKA took three points against Krasnodar thanks to 2 goals scored by @Ahmedmusa718! pic.twitter.com/c5XVZeLVqP
— PFC CSKA Moscow (@PFCCSKA_en) April 22, 2018
Musa scored a brace, his third goal in four league games, since he rejoined the club on loan from the Foxes.
Bryan Idowu, Amkar Perm
Idowu’s Amkar ended a run of two successive losses with a 2-0 away win at Tosno, with the versatile defender on from start to finish.
Turkey
Shehu Abdullahi, William Troost-Ekong & Mikel Agu, Bursaspor
Shehu Abdullahi was a relieved man, after this Turkish side, Bursaspor defeated their Karabukspor 4-1 away from home.
Shehu, who picked up a booking in the game, was the only Nigerian of Bursaspor’ trio, who started the game.
Matchday Result: Karabukspor 1-4 @BursasporSk.
Good to be back to winning ways, congratulations to the coach and my teammates. We appreciate our patient fans for their massive support!#WeAreBursaspor#SuperbBursasporfans pic.twitter.com/TQ2b99cemA
— Shehu Abdullahi (@OfficialShehu) April 21, 2018
He lasted the duration of the game, while compatriots, Ekong and Agu, watched from the bench.
Ogenyi Onazi, Trabzonspor
Super Eagles assistant captain, Onazi was not listed for his side’s 2-0 defeat at home to Sivasspor.
Onazi missed the game due to an injury, as he us currently out with a hamstring.
Kenneth Omeruo, Kasimpasa
It was a bad day at the office for Omeruo and his club, Kasimpasa, as they were at the receiving end of a 2-0 beating at Konyaspor.
Omeruo lasted the 90 in that game, his 25th game of the season for the Super Lig side.
Bonus
Simy Nwankwo, Crotone
Little known Simy Nwankwo has continued to leave a mark in the minds of Nigerians after his wonderful bicycle kick goal last weekend earned his modest Serie A side, Crotone, an unlikely point against champions, Juventus.
? Crotone 1⃣?1⃣ Juventus ?
⚽ Simy ??pic.twitter.com/Wg8l8uvz3r
— JuveFCid ? (@JuveFCid) April 18, 2018
Simy, as he is called, was at it again this week, as he started the comeback that helped his side to a valuable win and all three points at Udinese.
With his side 1-0 down, Simy scored a brilliant equaliser to cancel out Kevin Lasagna’s opener for the hosts.
It was Simy’s fourth goal of the season, but it has taken him 19games to get there.
Check out this awesome video: Simy Goal – Udinese 1-1 Crotone Serie A https://t.co/4SyHAIBZsJ
— GoalsHD (@Hd1Goals) April 22, 2018
Crotone went on to win 2-1, but have their Nigerian striker to thank, as his beautiful goal kick started that comeback.
Do you think Simy deserves a chance in the Super Eagles team? Let us know what you think.
