A very good weekend for Super Eagles players in Europe, especially for those of them who play in the popular English Premier League. Here’s a look at how they and others performed over the weekend across their various European leagues.
England
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal.
Iwobi has been one of the better players for his club, Arsenal, who ended a run of three games in the Premier League without a win in the space of 22 excellent first half minutes.
The Gunners defeated Crystal Palace 4-1, with the 21-year-old scoring the second goal for his side, latching onto a pass from Nacho Monreal before he was replaced by Sead Kolasinac with eight minutes left.
At the AmEx Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion hosted champions, Chelsea, who paraded their Nigerian wingback, Victor Moses.
For the 15th time this season, Moses started a game for the defending champions, and marked it with a goal, after he netted the fourth goal for the Blues in a comfortable 4-0 win.
Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, & Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City
Wilfred Ndidi was his usual calm self at the King Power stadium, where 2016 champions, Leicester City welcomed struggling side, Watford.
Ndidi went about his job, breaking play and winning the ball as the Foxes ran out 2-0 winners against the Hornets, who have since sacked their manager, Marco Silva.
Meanwhile, despite his heroics against Fleetwood in the FA Cup third round replay, Ndidi’s national team mate, Kelechi Iheanacho, was only considered good enough for the bench by his manager, Claude Puel.
The former Manchester City youngster was an unused substitute, while his other compatriot at the club, Ahmed Musa was nowhere to be found.
Ola Aina, Hull City
In the Championship, Ola Aina put up a good performance but it wasn’t enough to save his club side, Hull City, from another defeat.
Aina lasted the 90 as the Tigers lost 1-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Elsewhere, Super Eagles defenders, Chidozie Awaziem and Leon Balogun were conspicuously missing in action for their respective clubs in France and German.
While Nantes however lost 1-0 to in form Bordeaux, Mainz came from behind to beat Stuttgart 3-2, neither players making even the bench.
For Anorthosis of Cyprus fullback, Shehu Abubakar, it was a day of emotions as he said his goodbyes to the Cypriot champions and their fans.
Shehu, who has sealed a move to Turkish side, Bursaspor, was on from start to finish in Anorthosis’ 3-1 defeat of Ethnikos Achnas, with Shehu grabbing the second goal via the penalty.
John Ogu, Anthony Nwakaeme, Hapoel Beer Sheva
The duo of Ogu and Nwakaeme returned to winning ways after two consecutive draws in Israel.
Beer Sheva, who are the defending champions, defeated Hapoel Ironi Akko 1-0 thanks to a Ben Sahar penalty in the second half. Ogu and his compatriot also featured, as the champions are back level with leaders, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
And in Portugal, Oghenekaro Etebo missed a rare win for Feirense, as they defeated Moreirense 1-0.
Belgium
Uche Agbo, Standard Liege
The Belgian resumed at the weekend, but without some of our Super Eagles players, and one of those missing was Agbo, who missed Liege’s 3-2 win over Henry Onyekuru’s former side, Eupen. Agbo missed his side’s hard-fought win as he is currently serving his ban for a red card picked before the break.
Moses Simon, Gent
Moses Simon was expectedly missing when Gent hosted and trashed Lokeren 3-0 at home. The 22-year-old, who has scored six times for his modest side, is out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury.
Netherlands
Tyronne Ebuehi, ADO Den Haag
Benfica bound star, Ebuehi was on from start to finish as his Dutch side, Den Haag, were held to a 1-1 draw at home by VV Venlo.
It was the 22-year-old’s 18th game of the season, with two assists to his name.
Bonus: Michael Obafemi, Southampton
He ‘dreamed’ of it as a kid and that dream came to pass when 17-year-old Michael Obafemi made his senior debut for Southampton on Sunday.
Obafemi played for nine minutes, after coming on for Manolo Gabbiadini in the 82nd minute.
The Irish-born Nigerian is one talent to keep an eye on in the coming years.
