Reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen and Turkey based Paul Onuachu were among a number of Nigerian goal scorers that contributed to their clubs’ fortunes last weekend, www.aclsports.com reports.
Sunday especially, was a productive day for Nigerian stars as they helped their clubs to decent results in their respective league games played across Europe. Here is a summary of some of them that got their names on the scoresheet.
ITALY:
Victor Osimhen (Napoli): The Nigerian Number 9 scored a goal from the penalty spot to give Napoli the lead against AS Roma for the first time in the game but a late Tammy Abraham header denied hosts Napoli the full points as the game ended 2-2. Osimhen scored his fourteenth (14th) league goal of the campaign in the 84th minute after Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was upended inside the box.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta): Lookman scored a brilliant individual goal for Atalanta as they downed Empoli 2-0 at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Mario Pasalic gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot late in the first half before Lookman sealed the win in the 51st minute when upon receiving a pass from Isak Hien, he spurned his marker, embarked on a 20-metre run before firing home from 20 yards with his left. It was the ninth league goal of the season for the Nigerian winger who also has six assists in this Serie A campaign.
TURKEY:
Paul Onuachu (Tranzonspor): The big centre forward scored a remarkable hattrick for Trabzonspor as they came from 2-0 down at half time to beat Gaziantepspor 4-2 on Sunday. Onuachu halved the deficit in the 50th minute when he powered home a volley down the throat of Gaziantepspor goalkeeper Florin Nitâ.
Onuachu then teed up Enis Bardhi for the equaliser in the 65th minute before the Nigerian striker gave his side the lead one minute later with a well-struck goal. He received a low cross from Edin Visça who also assisted his first goal. This time, Onuachu kept his composure to round Nitã before slotting home.
The former Southampton striker then completed his hattrick in the 68th minute when he calmly controlled Mahmoud Trezeguet’s cross before arrowing into the roof of the net with a left footed half volley.
Sunday’s treble took Onuachu ‘s tally for the season to twelve goals in the Super Lig and it was the first time he’s finding the back of the net since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in February.
Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rizespor): Olawoyin continued to prove himself as one of Nigeria’s best players in Turkey after providing a goal and an assist in Caykur Rizespor’s 2-2 draw with Ankaragücü on Sunday.
Olawoyin’s sublime turn-and-cross was headed home by Adolfo Gaich to give Rizespor a 25th minute lead before the Number 10 finished Jonjo Shelvey’s free kick from close range to double the advantage. The visitors would however score twice in the second half, including a 99th minute goal to end the game 2-2.
The goal was Olawoyin’s seventh league goal of the season. He also has three assists, making up a 10 G/A tally for the season so far.
SCOTLAND
Cyril Dessers (Rangers): Dessers was the match winner for Rangers as they beat St. Mirren 2-1 away from home to keep within touching distance of leaders Celtic. With the scores at 1-1, Dessers was at the right place to head James Tavernier’s cross into an unguarded post with St Mirren goalkeeper Zachary Hemming colliding with his defender in the process.
Sunday’s goal was the Nigerian striker’s 14th league goal of the season in 31 appearances. His Nigerian teammate Leon Balogun also played full 90 minutes in the game.
PORTUGAL:
Kelechi Nwakali (Chaves) – Former Under 17 Golden Boy Nwakali scored his first goal of the season for Chaves but it was not enough to save his side from going down to a 1-3 defeat at Casa Pia. Nwakali’s scorching effort from 25 yards had restored parity for Chaves in the 65th after Duplexe Tchama gave the hosts a first half lead.
Chaves however conceded again two minutes after Nwakali’s goal and ultimately suffered a defeat that left them in the relegation zone.
FRANCE
Akor Adams (Montpellier): Adams scored his eighth league goal of the season as Montpellier battled Nantes to a 1-1 draw on Friday night. The game started on a fast note and it was Adams who scored inside the opening two minutes, rounding off a swift break by finishing Mousa Al-Taamari’s brilliant lay off one time beyond the goalkeeper.
