It was mid week football in various European leagues on Boxing Day, with Nigerian duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Ola Aina, two of the best Super Eagles players on show.
Ndidi and Leicester City shock Man City without Iheanacho
After his man of the match performance at the weekend against Chelsea, Wilfred Ndidi put on another superb display as Leicester shocked champions, Manchester City at the King Power stadium.
Ndidi played for 90minutes, creating one chance, winning four tackles and two interceptions. He also completed one hundred percent of his dribbles in their 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s City.
Meanwhile, his compatriot at the club, Kelechi Iheanacho, was not even listed for the encounter.
At the Amex stadium, it was Leon Balogun against Alex Iwobi as Brighton & Hove Albion hosted Arsenal. Balogun started and finished the game while Iwobi was a second half substitute, playing for 45 minutes as both teams shared the spoils.
In the English Championship, Stoke City were beaten 2-0 at Birmingham City without their Nigerian midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, who was an unused substitute.
Aina shines as Troost-Ekong’s Udinese draw in Serie A
The Super Eagles players in the Italian Serie A were not left out, led by midfielder, Joel Chukwuma Obi, who returned to the starting eleven of his side, Chievo Verona.However, Obi only lasted 15 minutes before he was replaced for a suspected injury, with Chievo going on to lose 2-0 to their hosts, Sampdoria.
William Troost-Ekong and his Udinese club were held to a goalless draw at SPAL with Ekong on from start to finish while at Stadio Olimpico Grande, Ola Aina continued his excellent form for Torino.
Aina was not only brilliant defensively, winning one hundred percent of this tackles, five out of five, helping his club to a clean sheet, but also put in a solid shift in attacking by creating two chances and completing two dribbles as Torino put Empoli 3-0 to the sword.
Belgium
Victor Osimhen, Sporting Charleroi
Youngster, Osimhen, played match number 16 in the Belgian Jupiler but was unable to add to his eight goals. For the 90minutes he spent on the pitch, Osimhen was expertly caged by Standard Liege.
