It was a rather quiet weekend for Super Eagles players with Samuel Kalu the only one who celebrated his recent call-up to the national team in style.
Here is a look at how they performed with the AFCON qualifier against Seychelles just two weeks away.
England
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal
Rewarded for his impressive display in the London derby against Chelsea last week, Iwobi started yet another derby game, this time against West Ham United at the Emirates stadium.
However, the playmaker failed to put up similar performance as he did at the Bridge but still managed to provide the assist that led to Arsenal’s equaliser scored by Nacho Monreal.
Iwobi lasted just 45minutes, with Alexandre Lacazette taking his place just before the second half, with the Gunners going on the record their first win under new manager. Unai Emery, after a 3-1 victory over the Hammers.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City
The Foxes came from behind to beat their hosts, Southampton, 2-1 at St. Mary’s with their Nigerian duo playing featuring.
Ndidi and Iheanacho started the game, but only the defensive midfielder lasted the 90minutes, while his compatriot, who replaced the suspended Jamie Vardy, played for just over an hour.
At Anfield, Leon Balogun’s first start in English football could not have been any tougher, coming up against Liverpool’s deleterious trio of Sadio Mane, Robert Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Despite a spirited and an above average performance from the one half of the ‘Oyinbo Wall’, he was helpless as a Salah goal ensured they left as they came, pointless.
In the English second division, the SkyBet Championship, Oghenekaro Etebo’s return to Stoke City’s starting XI propelled his side to return to winning ways.
Etebo lasted the duration of the game as he put up a man of the match performance in the Potters 2-0 win over Hull City.
Russia
Bryan Idowu, Lokomotiv Moscow
It was a rare win in Russia for left back, Idowu and his club as they defeated Anzih Makhachkala 2-0. However, the Russian born defender played no part in it as he was an unused substitute.
Turkey
Ogenyi Onazi & Anthony Nwakaeme, Trabzonspor
Vice captain of the national team, Onazi was on for 90minutes alongside forgotten forward, Nwakaeme, who lasted 73 minutes in Trabzonspor’s 2-2 draw at Ankaragucu.
Bonus
Our bonus players for this week are Dennis Bonaventura and newly invited forward, Samuel Kalu, who played his first game for new side, Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1.
Bonaventura continues to enhance his reputation after he inspired Club Brugge to a memorable 2-1 win over giants, Anderlecht, scoring the opener for his modest side
In France, Kalu showed flashes of why the club paid €10m for his service, as he tormented former champions, AS Monaco all day.
The 19-year-old won his side a penalty, converted by Francois Kamano to put them 1-0 up.
However, his performance was dented a bit when he missed a penalty of later in the game but had Kamano to thank for saving his blushes by scoring the winning goal for a 2-1 victory.
