•Dessers, Ejuke, Iheanacho beaten as Moses scores again in France
The first international break of the season is here, and Nigerian stars are heading into the window in great form after their sterling outings with their various clubs overseas over the weekend. ABIODUN ADEWALE reports
SUNDAY
ENGLAND
FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)
Former Flying Eagles midfielder Dele-Bashiru played his sixth consecutive game as a starter for Watford on Sunday, but his involvement didn’t pay off as they lost 1-0 against Sheffield United. He was also consistent for them last term, scoring two goals plus two assists in 35 games.
SCOTLAND
DESSERS, BALOGUN (RANGERS)
Despite being in form with three goals in four games, Cyriel Dessers was helpless as Rangers lost 3-0 to Celtic in the Old Firm derby. The Nigerian was booked in the 67th minute as well. His compatriot, Leon Balogun, was an unused substitute in the game.
FRANCE
VICTOR ORAKPO (NICE)
Although Terem Moffi is out injured, OGC Nice still have another Nigerian in their squad, Orakpo, who is still racking up the minutes for the French side, coming up as a late substitute in their 4-1 win away to Angers. The 18-year-old featured for three minutes after replacing two-goal hero Evann Guessand. He has only played 15 minutes of Ligue 1 football this season.
SPAIN
IHEANACHO, EJUKE (SEVILLA)
For the second consecutive game in the La Liga, Chidera Ejuke was was handed a starting shirt by Sevilla, as they seek their first win of the season against Girona. His compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho was dropped to the bench after starting their last game against Mallorca.
SADIQ UMAR (REAL SOCIEDAD)
Having started the last two games from the bench, the transfer rumours hanging around Umar seems to be over and the striker was thrown into the starting line up for the first time this season as Sociedad faced Getafe on Sunday. He will hope to settle down at the club this season and improve on his three goals and one assist in 26 games last season.
CHRISANTUS UCHE (GETAFE)
‘The new Uche’ in the La Liga, was handed his third start of the season by coach José Bordalás as Getafe hosted Real Sociedad on Sunday. The 21-year-old hugged the headlines on his LaLiga debut, scoring a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao two weeks ago.
BELGIUM
RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)
Onyedika remains a mainstay at reigning Belgian champions Club Brugge, helping them to a 3-0 win over Cercle Brugge KSV on Sunday. He was on for the entire duration of the game with a 7.2 rating on Flashscore.
JORDAN TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Defender Torunarigha was involved in Gent’s goal in their 1-1 draw against former champions Antwerp. The Nigeria defender set up Sven Kums for the opening goal in the 16th minute before Tjarron Chery levelled matters for Antwerp in the 30th minute. The defender was also booked before halftime.
CZECH
IGOH OGBU (SLAVIA PRAGUE)
In the Czech Republic, Nigerian defender Ogbu has been ever-present for Slavia Prague in all competitions this season, and he was magnificent in their 2-0 win over FK Pardubice. The 24-year-old has played six league matches without being substituted.
ABDULLAHI TANKO (OSTRAVA)
Twenty-six-year-old forward Tanko was involved for 69 minutes in Ostrava’s 2-2 draw at Sigma Olomouc. He has only scored once in six league games this season.
DENMARK
STEPHEN ODEY (RANDERS)
Former MFM striker Odey is yet to find his feet in the new season, starting from the bench in their game against Aalborg.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
WILFRED NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)
Wilfred Ndidi made a significant impact for Leicester City, providing an assist in their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes found themselves behind early, with Amadou Onana giving Villa the lead in the 28th minute, before doubling their advantage through Jhon Duran just after the hour mark. However, Leicester pulled one back when Ndidi’s header set up Facundo Buonano for a goal. Despite his efforts, Leicester couldn’t avoid defeat, and Ndidi was substituted in the final minute for Bobby De Cordova-Reid. The Foxes continue to struggle on their return to the top flight, with one draw and two defeats so far this season.
JOE ARIBO (SOUTHAMPTON)
Joe Aribo’s Southampton capitulated 3-1 against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Nigeria midfielder started the match but was substituted in the 82nd minute for Adam Lallana. Cameroonian midfielder Bryan Mbeumo was the star of the show, scoring twice, while Yoane Wissa added a third for the Bees. Yukinari Sugawara netted late consolation for the Saints. Southampton’s struggles continue as they sit second from bottom in the league table with zero points after three straight losses since their return to the top flight.
IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)
At Portman Road, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey of Fulham had to settle for a 1-1 draw against newly promoted Ipswich Town. Liam Delap broke the deadlock for Ipswich with a stunning strike in the opening hour before Adama Traore equalised just after the half-hour mark. Iwobi completed 97 percent of his passes in 87 minutes, the highest by any player in the game. He also created two chances, made two key passes, and completed two dribbles. Bassey, 24, completed the most passes in the match but couldn’t help secure a clean sheet. He won one tackle, made three clearances, and made three recoveries.
AWONIYI, AINA (FOREST)
At the City Ground, Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw against Wolves. Ola Aina played the full 90 minutes for Forest, while Taiwo Awonyi made a brief appearance in added time as he continued his recovery from injury. Chris Wood gave Forest an early lead with an unchallenged header from a corner, but Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde responded immediately with a stunning strike from range. Wood thought he had found a winner late on, but his effort was ruled offside. The result leaves Forest with five points from their opening three matches, still seeking their first home win of the season.
MAJA, AJAYI (WESTBROM)
Josh Maja provided an assist on Saturday as West Brom beat Swansea City by a lone goal. His contribution came for Jayson Molumby in first half stoppage time, and he was substituted in the 77th minute. The striker now has four goals and one assist. His compatriot, Semilogo Ajayi, was booked in the 20th minute but was solid at the back for a Baggies clean sheet and third win of the season.
SOUTH AFRICA
OLISA NDAH (ORLANDO PIRATES)
Fresh from getting a recall to the Super Eagles for the 2025 AFCN qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, defender Olisa Ndah captained Orlando Pirates and led by example as they secured a spot in the MTN 8 final with a 2-0 victory over Cape Town City FC, winning 3-1 on aggregate. Ndah formed a formidable defensive partnership with Thabiso Sesane, now dubbed the ‘Wall of Orlando.’
FRANCE
MOSES SIMON (NANTES)
Simon got his name on the score sheet for the second game in a row, netting his second goal of the season in their 3-1 win over Montpellier at Stade de la Mosson. Simon scored a penalty shortly after the break to make it 2-1 for Nantes before Egypt’s Mostafa Mohamed sealed the win for Nantes in the 85th minute.
AKOR ADAMS (MONPELLIER)
Adams has opened his goal account for the new season, but his first was a mere consolation in their 3-1 defeat to Moses Simon’s Nantes. The striker scored in the 30th minute to make it 1-1 after Matthis Abline had given Nantes the lead.
GERMANY
BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Victor Boniface was involved for 77 minutes, while Nathan Tella played just 13 minutes as German champions Bayer Leverkusen surrendered their 35-match unbeaten league run in a dramatic 3-2 defeat at home to RB Leipzig. The German Red Bulls scored three unanswered goals against Germany’s red company team at the BayArena to complete a sensational comeback victory. Jeremie Frimpong notched the 1-0 in the 39th off a nice long ball from Tah, while Alejandro Grimaldo dusted off an easy 2-0 in the 45th following some very nice set-up work from Xhaka, Wirtz, and Terrier. Loïs Openda’s double helped Leipzig become the first team to beat Leverkusen in the Bundesliga for 462 days.
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC MILAN)
Chukwueze made his second start of the season for AC Milan, but he couldn’t make any major impact before he was taken off in their 2-2 draw against Lazio. The Nigerian was preferred ahead of Raphael Leao, but he was replaced in the 77th minute by the Portuguese striker, who got Milan’s equaliser in the game.
FISAYO DELE- BASHIRU (LAZIO)
Super Eagles midfielder Dele-Bashiru started from the bench for the first time in his Lazio career, playing just 10 minutes in their 2-2 draw at home against AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. He started their first two games against Venezia and Udinese.
ALBANIA
TAOFEEK MALOMO (BYLIS)
Former 3SC captain Taofeek Malomo made his third consecutive start for Albanian side Bylis in their 0-0 draw at Laci on Saturday. He has now played three games but is still waiting for his first goal contribution for the club.
