By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 1, 2023

…Okereke also on target in Cremonese draw
•Moffi, Balogu, Ogbu see Yellow card

While it didn’t rain much goals for Nigerian stars in Europe, David Okereke and Asisat Oshoala were on target as both players continued their impressive forms. ANTHONY NLEBEM writes on how the players performed for their various clubs over the weekend

England

Onuachu, Aribo (Southampton)

Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo did not make the match squad in Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle in a Premier League fixture played at St James’ Park on Sunday.

The 28-year-old striker is yet to register a Premier League goal for the struggling Saints in ten league matches

Compatriot Aribo has struggled to get regular playing time and has only featured in three Premier League games since January 2023.

Dennis, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)

Taiwo Awoniyi was in action as Forest lost to Brentford 2-1 in a Premier League fixture at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

The 25-year-old had 56 minutes of action before coming off for Andre Ayew as Forest’s run of poor results continues.

Countryman Emmanuel Dennis was not in the squad as the striker is currently out with an injury.

Eze, Olise (Crystal Palace)

The duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, two Palace players of Nigeria descent players scored and assisted respectively for Crystal Palace in their 4-3 win over West Ham United in the Premier League fixture on Saturday at Selhurst Park.

Olise gave Jordan Ayew on goal to equalise for Palace in the 15th minute as scored the winning goal from a penalty spot in the 66th minute.

Italy

Dessers, Okereke (Cremonese)

David Okereke was in action and scored the opening goal for Cremonese to take his goal tally to six as the home side were held to a 1-1 draw against Verona at the Stadio Giovanni Zini on Sunday.

The 25-year-old striker scored in the ninth minute and was outstanding in the match before coming off for Felix Afena-Gyan in the 70th minute.

While compatriots Cyriel Dessers was a second half substitute as they came on for Daniel Ciofani in the 70th minute but was not impressive in the encounter.

Osimhen, Troost-Ekong (Napoli, Salernitana)

Striker Victor Osimhen was in the starting lineup as Napoli missed a chance to seal their first Serie A title in 33 years following their 1-1 draw against Salernitana at the Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Serie A top scorer was impressive all day but could not add to his 21 goals in 26 matches, but the Gli Azzurriare are 18 points clear of the table but will have to wait till the next feature to win their first Scudetto since 1990.

Defender William Troost-Ekong was an unused substitute for Salernitana.

Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli)

Defender Ebuehi was handed a starting role by Paolo Zanetti but could not stop his side from their 2-1 away defeat to Sassuolo in a Serie A fixture played at the Stadio Mapei – Citta del Tricolore on Sunday.

The 27-year-old defender has made 21 league appearances and scored two goals this season.

Lookman, Aina(Atalanta, Torino)

Ademola Lookman was not in Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad as Atlanta defeated Torino 2-1 in a Serie A fixture played at the Stadio Olimpico Grande on Saturday.

The 25-year-old winger is yet to recover fully from a thigh injury he suffered against Bologna and has missed three league matches.

Fellow teammate, Ola Aina could not make the squad for Torino as the 26-year-old right-back is currently recovering from a calf injury he sustained against Napoli in March and has not played in five consecutive Serie A matches.

France

Folarin Balogun (Reims)

Arsenal loanee Balogun was handed a starting role but fired blank as Reims suffered a 1-0 defeat to Clermont Foot in a French Ligue 1 fixture played at the Stade Gabriel Montpied on Sunday.

The Arsenal star had full-time action but could not add to his 18 goals scored this season and got a yellow card in the 80th minute.

The 21-year-old is the fourth top scorer in Ligue 1, four goals shy of Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé who is the leading scorer.

Moses Simon (Nantes)

Winger Simon was on the starting line-up as Nantes suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Toulouse in the French Cup final after scoring four first-half goals at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The 27-year-old was in action for 46 minutes but could not help Les Canaris defend the Coupe de France cup they won last season.

Spain

Samuel Chukwueze (VillarReal)

Chukwueze got a starting role Villarreal got a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo in a LaLiga fixture at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday.

The 23-year-old winger played for 63 minutes but could not put the ball inside the net of Celta Vigo.

Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin)

Striker Oshoala scored the winning goal as Barcelona women recorded a 3-0 win against Sporting Club de Huelva Women Spanish Women’s Primera Division on Sunday.

The 28-year-old who recently returned from injury was a second half substitute and scored in the 89th minute to take her goal numbers to 20 in 24 league appearances.

Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid Women)

Super Falcons striker Ajibade was a second half substitute as  Atletico Madrid Feminine played 1-1 against Real Betis Women in an away fixture in the Spanish Women’s Primera Division match on Saturday.

The 23-year-old came in for Sonia Majarin in the 60th minute.

Ajibade has scored eight goals in 26 league matches this season.

Czech Republic

Olayinka, Ogbu (Slavia Prague)

Peter Olayinka was in the starting XI but could not register his name in the scorer chart as Slavia Prague were forced to a 1-1 against Hradec Kralove in the Czech First League fixture at the Stadion U Nisy on Sunday.

The 27-year-old forward who has registered 11 goals in 21 league matches was substituted in the 36th minute.

Also, defender Igoh Ogbu was on for 90 minutes but got a yellow card in the 83rd minute for holding the ball.

Olatunji, Ghali (Slovan Liberec)

The duo of Victor Olatunji and Ahmad Ghali were in action for Slovan Liberec as they lost 3-1 to Sparta Prague in the Czech Fortuna Liga at the Stadion U Nisy on Saturday.

The 23-year-old former AEK Larnaca forward was on for the entire duration of the match and has netted four goals in 14 appearances this season.

While 22-year-old Ghali who is yet to register a goal after ten league appearances was substituted in the 84th minute.

Source Punch Ng

Posted May 1, 2023

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