Nigerian footballers delivered strong performances across Europe last weekend. Many of these players are set to join the Super Eagles camp for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Their impactful contributions—including goals, assists, and decisive plays—offer a timely boost for the national team’s preparations.
Spain: Adams and Ejuke Steal the Show
In Spain, Sevilla secured an emphatic 4-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Two Nigerian stars left a significant mark on the match. Akor Adams opened the scoring in just the fourth minute. He netted his third goal of the season with a composed finish past Aarón Escandell.
Adams wasn’t done there. Midway through the first half, he turned provider. He teed up Djibril Sow, who then doubled Sevilla’s advantage with a low strike. Later in the contest, Chidera Ejuke sealed the win. Introduced in the 77th minute, the winger embarked on a dazzling solo run. He slotted home just before stoppage time, registering his first goal of the campaign. This capped a dominant home display for Sevilla.
Croatia: Fago’s Scoring Streak Continues
Croatia also brought good news for Nigeria. New Super Eagles invitee Lawal Salim Fago maintained his excellent scoring run for Istra 1961. The forward scored inside five minutes, marking his fifth goal of the season. This makes it back-to-back matches on the scoresheet since his AFCON call-up. Despite the match later being abandoned at 1-1, Fago’s early impact once again highlighted his strong form ahead of international duty.
Italy: Orban’s Match-Winning Brace, Okoye’s Clean Sheet
Italy proved to be another productive hunting ground. Gift Orban delivered a match-winning performance for Hellas Verona. He was introduced in the 35th minute following an injury-enforced change. The striker wasted little time making an impact.
Three minutes before halftime, Orban broke the deadlock. He scored with a cool finish from the edge of the box after a swift counterattack. Fiorentina later equalized. However, Orban returned to dramatically settle the contest. He calmly converted 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 crucial part. Udinese edged Napoli 1-0 in Serie A. The Super Eagles goalkeeper recorded his third clean sheet of the campaign. He confidently dealt with the limited threat he faced. His efforts helped his side deny Napoli the top spot on the table.
Further Contributions Across Europe
Elsewhere in Europe, Raphael Onyedika continued his steady performances. He played 79 minutes for Club Brugge in Belgium. They secured a resounding 5-1 away victory over Dender. In Turkey, Anthony Dennis followed up last week’s goal with another assured display. He completed the full match as Göztepe claimed a narrow 1-0 away win over Gaziantep. This took his season tally to three goals.
Wilfred Ndidi also featured prominently. He played the entire match in Beşiktaş’s 3-3 draw at Trabzonspor before joining 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.
These strong performances by Nigerian players abroad highlight their readiness and momentum. The Super Eagles will look to carry this form into their upcoming AFCON campaign.
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