Nigerian footballers are gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They concluded their club duties with impressive performances. These displays signal strong momentum for the national team.
Across Europe, many Nigerian players, especially those invited for AFCON, played crucial roles for their clubs. They delivered goals, assists, and decisive contributions. This offers a timely boost just before the major tournament.
Adams and Ejuke Dominate in Spain
In Spain, Sevilla secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Two Nigerians profoundly influenced the match. Akor Adams set the pace early, scoring in the fourth minute. He calmly finished past Aarón Escandell, marking his third goal of the season.
Adams wasn’t finished there. Midway through the first half, he turned provider. He set up Djibril Sow, whose low strike doubled Sevilla’s lead. Later in the game, Chidera Ejuke delivered the final blow. He came on in the 77th minute.
Ejuke embarked on a dazzling solo run. He slotted the ball home just before stoppage time. This was his first goal of the campaign. It capped off a truly dominant home performance.
Fago Extends Scoring Streak in Croatia
Croatia also brought good news for Nigeria. New Super Eagles invitee Lawal Salim Fago continued his impressive scoring run for Istra 1961. The forward scored within five minutes. This marked his fifth goal of the season.
It was his second consecutive match on the scoresheet since receiving his AFCON call-up. The match was later abandoned at 1-1. However, Fago’s early impact once again highlighted his excellent form leading into international duty.
Orban’s Heroics and Okoye’s Clean Sheet in Italy
Italy also proved to be a fertile ground for Nigerian talent. Gift Orban delivered a match-winning performance for Hellas Verona. An injury-forced change saw him introduced in the 35th minute. The striker wasted no time making his presence felt.
Three minutes before halftime, he broke the deadlock. He scored with a cool finish from the edge of the box after a swift counterattack. Fiorentina later equalized. But Orban dramatically settled the contest, converting calmly from close range in the dying moments. This sealed a 2-1 win and took his league tally to four goals for the season.
At the other end of the pitch, Maduka Okoye played a vital part. Udinese narrowly defeated Napoli 1-0 in Serie A. The Super Eagles goalkeeper recorded his third clean sheet of the season. He confidently handled the limited threats he faced. His efforts helped his team deny Napoli the top spot on the table.
Other Noteworthy Performances Across Europe
Elsewhere in Europe, Raphael Onyedika maintained his consistent form for Club Brugge. He played 79 minutes in their resounding 5-1 away victory over Dender in Belgium. In Turkey, Anthony Dennis followed up his goal from last week with another assured display. He completed the full match as Göztepe secured a narrow 1-0 away win over Gaziantep. This took his season tally to three goals.
Further appearances came from other key players. Wilfred Ndidi played the entire match in Beşiktaş’s 3-3 draw at Trabzonspor. He then joined the Super Eagles camp. Bruno Onyemaechi returned to action for Olympiacos after an injury layoff. Cyriel Dessers made his first start in 17 matches for Panathinaikos following a lengthy absence. Kelechi Iheanacho continued his recovery with another outing for Celtic.
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