Super Eagles trio of Joe Aribo, Victor Osimhen, and defender, William Troost-Ekong have sent the best possible message to Sierra Leone after sparking displays at the weekend.
Ahead the decisive AFCON2022Q double header against Sierra Leone, all three were on target for their respective European clubs, with Scotland based Aribo the obvious standout performer.
Aribo continued his impressive form since his return to fitness for Rangers in the Scottish as he scored a first half brace for the league leaders in their 8-0 demolition of Hamilton on Sunday.
The talented midfielder scored on 19 and 36 minutes of the game before he was replaced in the second half by Ianis Haggi on 69 minutes.
The goals were Aribo’s third since his return, taking his tally for the season to 4 in just 7 matches for Rangers in the league.
Osimhen proved to be the winner for SSC Napoli at the weekend as they defeated Bologna away from home in the Italian Serie A with the Nigerian star forward scoring the only goal in a 0-1 win.
The goal was scored on 23 minutes, Osimhen’s second of the season for the side from Naples. He was on the pitch for 83 minutes.
Earlier on Saturday in England, Troost-Ekong scored his first goal for new club Watford in their entertaining 5-goal thriller at home to Coventry City.
With his club losing 1-2, Ekong powered home a header on 67 minutes from a James Garner corner for a much-needed equaliser before they went on to win 3-2 on the day.
Now, for Eagles in Europe, EiE, to review the performances of other Super Eagles players in Europe.
After his heroics in the Europa League in midweek, Kelechi Iheanacho returned to familiar territory as Leicester City narrowly defeated Wolves 1-0 at home.
Iheanacho was a spectator this time on the bench for 90 minutes as Jamie Vardy inspired them to the top of the Premier League table.
Alex Iwobi came off the bench for Everton to play for 24 minutes but couldn’t do anything as the Toffees suffered a third consecutive loss after a 1-3 defeat to Manchester United lunchtime on Saturday.
Ola Aina and Fulham allowed all their hard work slip away after falling to a 90th minute goal as they lost narrowly 1-0 to West Ham.
It was also a narrow defeat for another Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi whose West Bromwich Albion were undone by a late Harry Kane goal for Tottenham on Sunday.
It was a bad day at the office for new Super Eagles defender, Kevin Akpoguma as Hoffenheim went, saw, and failed to conquer their hosts, Wolfsburg in a 2-1 defeat for the visitors in the German Bundesliga.
Akpoguma was the most accurate passer on the pitch after he completed 91% of his passes, won one tackle, 2 aerial duels, and made 4 clearances.
Villarreal continued their impressive start to the season in LaLiga with a 1-3 win over Getafe on Sunday, but they were without Samuel Chukwueze, who watched for 90 minutes on a the bench.
Dennis Bonaventure and Paul Onuachu were kept quiet for 59 minutes and 89 minutes respectively as Club Brugge and Genk picked up away wins in Belgium.
Brugge defeated Oostende 1-3, while Onuachu’s Genk won 1-2 at St. Truiden, with Cyriel Dessers an unused substitute.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye kept his first clean sheet in just his second game of the season as Spartak Rotterdam defeated RKC Waalwijk 0-2 away in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Tyronne Ebuehi put up an impressive showing against his former club, ADO Den Haag to help his new side, FC Twente to a 2-4 away win.
The young fullback completed the most dribbles, created one chance, one key pass, made 3 interceptions, and won one tackle.
For Denmark based Frank Onyeka, it was a super weekend as he helped Midtjylland to a comprehensive thrashing of rivals, FC Copenhagen.
Onyeka played from start to finish as they defeated their fiercest rivals 4-0 at home.
Left backs, Zaidu Sanusi and Jamilu Collins enjoyed big wins at the weekend at their respective clubs in Portugal and Germany.
Sanusi’s Porto were 3-1 winners over Portimonense with the all-action defender on from start to finish, while Collins also played for 90 minutes as Paderborn humiliated Darmstadt 0-4.
Chidera Ejuke was a substitute for 27 minutes as CSKA Moscow defeated Rostov 2-0 at home, with Oghenekaro Etebo on for just 9 minutes in Galatasaray’s 1-2 at Sivasspor in Turkey.
