EiE: Onuachu, Ndidi impress; Chukwueze back scoring

Super Eagles new invitee, Paul Onuachu, celebrated his maiden call up in style following a solid performance for his Danish side in a weekend that Wilfred Ndidi and Samuel Chukwueze also impressed.

Here is the scorecard of Super Eagles players in their respective European sides.

Onuachu showed just why he has been called up to the national team when he led his Danish club, Midtjylland, to victory on Friday.

While the giant forward was stopped from adding to his 14 goals this season in the league, he did show there was more to him than finding the back of the net as he put on his creative cap.

Onuachu created the most chances (4) in the game, with one of them ending up as an assist for team mate, Evander Ferreira to open the scoring in their 2-1 win at Hobro.

Another Super Eagles star who put on an impressive performance at the weekend was youngster, Samuel Chukwueze.

He may have been dropped from the latest list released by Gernot Rohr, but the 19-year-old helped his La Liga side, Villarreal, put an end to their losing streak.

It was a battle between two Super Eagles players, Chukwueze and Moses Simon at the Estadio Cuidad de Valencia, with Chukwueze and his fellow Yellow Submariners having the last laugh.

With Villarreal already 1-0 ahead thanks to an own goal, Chukwueze came off the bench just after the hour mark but his goal did not arrive until six minutes into added time to seal a 2-0 win over Simon’s Levante.

Leganes lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in their mini derby with Kenneth Omeruo on the pitch from start to finish. But it would be a poor outing for the otherwise reliable defender, who also conceded a penalty but had his blushes saved by Saul Niguez who went on to miss the resultant spot kick.

Victor Osimhen, Sporting Charleroi
Osimhen scored his 11th of the season as Charleroi defeated Royal Antwerp 2-1.

With his side trailing at Bousil Stadion, Osimhen was a bag of composure as he stepped up to the plate to equalise for his side from the spot.

The youngster has now been involved in 14goals this season for his Belgian outfit.

Samuel Kalu started his weekend on the bench for Bordeaux in their 1-1 draw at AS Monaco in the Ligue. He did come on in the second half, but was unable to help his side take all three points. He was on the pitch for just 29minutes.

Moving to the English Premier League, Leicester City won for the first time under new boss, Brendan Rodgers, with our very own Ndidi in superb form.

Ndidi put in a defensive masterclass, winning the most tackles (6) in the match as Leicester defeated relegation bound Fulham 3-1 at the King Power stadium.

The defensive midfielder lasted the duration of the game while his compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho, was an unused substitute.

Still in the PL, Brighton & Hove Albion boosted their PL survival hopes with a brilliant 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. However, the Seagulls were without their injured Super Eagle, Leon Balogun, once again.

At the Etihad, Isaac Success and Watford left as they arrived, empty handed after a 3-1 defeat by champions, Manchester City, with Success on the pitch for 66minutes.

Alex Iwobi had a cameo show in Arsenal’s impressive victory over Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday. He replaced fellow playmaker, Mesut Ozil, on 77minutes with the Gunners already 2-0 up.

In the English lower division, it was anything but a good day at the office for the Super Eagles contingent there. Led by captain, John Obi Mikel, only Oghenekaro Etebo was able to avoid a defeat.

Despite losing 2-1 to Brentford at home, Mikel created one chance, won 100% of his tackles and three interceptions for Middlesbrough, while also picking up a booking in the game, his first of the season for Boro.

Etebo’s Stoke City held their hosts, Queens Park Rangers to a goalless draw, while Semi Ajayi and Rotherham United lost 2-0 at Sheffield United.

However, of the trio, only Etebo did not taste action as he was not listed by the Potters, while Mikel and Ajayi lasted the 90.

Moving to Italy, where we have another three representatives in William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina and Joel Chukwuma Obi.

Troost-Ekong’s Udinese was at the receiving end of a 4-1 hiding by defending champions, Juventus, while Obi was not spotted with his Chievo Verona side in their 1-2 loss to AC Milan.

Aina’s Torino made it nine matches without defeat with the defender playing a very key role as usual.

This time, Aina came off the bench to inspire his side as he assisted the second goal, which proved to be the winner, in their 2-1 win over Frosinone.

It would their third consecutive win, with Aina bagging a yellow card in just the 24minutes he was on the pitch.

Finally, in Turkey, youthful Chidozie Awaziem helped his side to a clean sheet and three valuable points as Rizespor saw off Kayserispor 3-0.

The Porto defender was on the pitch for 90minutes alongside two of his fellow countrymen, Okechukwu Azubuike and Aminu Umar, who played for 75minutes.

Bonus

Anthony Nwakaeme, Trabzonspor
Nwakaeme is a man in form after he netted for the third successive game in the Turkish Super Lig.

He scored his side’s opener in a 2-1 victory over Akhisarspor on Saturday.

Overlooked by Super Eagles coaches, the wide forward is going about his business in a very quiet but efficient manner, scoring his fourth goal in his last three Lig outings.

He now has seven goals for Trabzonspor, with four assists also to his name.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Royal Excel Mouscron
Another player yet to catch the eyes of Super Eagles handlers is former youth international, Awoniyi.

On loan from English side, Liverpool, Awoniyi has been superb for Belgium’s modes side, Mouscron.

On Sunday, he rescued a point for them against St. Truiden at home when he scored the equaliser.

That goal was the 18-year-old’s seventh of the season, and fifth in his last five matches.

Do you see both Nwakaeme and Awoniyi getting called up to the Super Eagles team any time soon?