The weekend in football saw a number of Nigerian footballers make a good impression for their respective clubs and SportsDey’s Naija Ballers Review takes a look at who turned up big time and who did not abroad.
Calvin Bassey
The defender scored a looping header just after the hour mark to give Fulham a 2-1 win over high-flying Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.
Fulham’s win at Craven Cottage also saw Alex Iwobi put up a solid display for the Cottagers before being substituted in the 90th minute, while Ola Aina played the entire duration of the game as did Bassey.
Rafiu Durosimi
After 505 days without a league goal for Viktoria Plzen, Rafiu Durosimi scored twice just before half-time to give the Czech giants a 2-0 win at Teplice in the First League on Sunday.
The result keeps Plzen in second place with 49 points, 10 points behind league leaders Slavia Praha ahead of a potential title deciding showdown between both teams at Plzen’s Doosan Arena this Sunday.
Chido Obi-Martin
Teenage sensation, Chido Obi-Martin, made his senior debut for Manchester United, coming on as a substitute in the 91st minute for Casemiro as the Red Devils fell to a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
The striker joined Manchester United earlier this season after starring for Arsenal’s academy team with goal-scoring displays before a dispute in contract terms led to the youngster leaving the Gunners to sign with the Red Devils.
Chidera Ejuke
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder registered his first assist of the La Liga season just five minutes after coming off the bench, sparking a counterattack for Sevilla and setting up Dodi Lukebakio to make it 4-0 for the visitors in the big win at Real Valladolid on Sunday.
George Ilenikhena
The young striker came off the bench to score two goals for AS Monaco in the 7-1 demolition of FC Nantes in a match which saw the visitors take the lead after only four minutes of action at Stade Louis II.
Another Nigerian, Moses Simon, set up Matthis Albine to give Nantes the lead but Arsenal’s former Danish forward, Mika Biereth, grabbed a hat-trick, while former Liverpool man, Takumi Minamino, got a goal and an assist as Monaco roared back to claim a big win.
The result puts Monaco in fourth with 40 points, behind local rivals OGC Nice on goal difference, while Nantes now find themselves just three points off the relegation playoff spot with 21 points after 22 matches.
Christantus Uche
The forward opened the scoring after three minutes while Borya Mayoral scored the winner just after the hour-mark to hand Getafe a hard-fought 2-1 win at 10-man Girona in a La Liga match.
Uche now has three goals in 24 league matches for Getafe this season as the club now lies in 13th place with 30 points, one point behind their opponent in 10th spot.