By Daniel Edu
SUNDAY
ENGLAND
ALEX IWOBI (EVERTON)
Alex Iwobi suffered an injury blow on Sunday as Everton’s disappointing start to the season continued with a 4-0 loss to Aston Villa. Everton was trailing by two goals when Iwobi sustained the injury, leading to his substitution by Neal Maupay in the 51st minute. The extent of Iwobi’s injury is yet to be confirmed following further tests. Despite a strong performance in the first game of the season, both Iwobi and Everton are without a win in their last two matches.
CHUKWUEMEKA, MADUEKE (CHELSEA)
In Chelsea’s second match of the season against West Ham, Carney Chukwuemeka retained his spot in the midfield despite the arrival of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Chukwuemeka justified his selection with a goal in the 29th minute. The goal from Madueke equalized Naif Aguerd’s opener for West Ham, resulting in a 2-1 victory for the Hammers in the London Derby.
Noni Madueke entered the game during the second half and came close to scoring for Chelsea while they were trailing 2-1.
AIDOMO EMAKHU (MILLWALL)
Nineteen-year-old midfielder Aidomo Emakhu managed to score a consolation goal for Millwall in their 3-1 defeat against Norwich at Carrow Road on Sunday. Born in Ireland with Nigerian heritage, Emakhu has already made an impact this season in the Championship with a goal and an assist. Andrew Omobamidele, another player of Nigerian descent who plays for Norwich and the Irish national team, received a late caution in the match.
FRANCE
MOSES SIMON (NANTES)
Moses Simon experienced a repeat of last week as he was substituted in the 72nd minute for Abdoul Kader Bamba in Nantes’s 2-0 loss to 10-man Lille at Stade Pierre Mauroy. This marked Nantes’ second defeat of the season, following their 2-1 home loss against Toulouse the previous week. Moses Simon, like his team, is yet to register goals or assists this season.
BELGIUM
ORBAN, TORUNARIGHA (GENT)
Gift Orban opened his account for the Belgian Pro League in Genk’s 2-2 draw against St. Truiden. Similarly, his compatriot Torunarigha played a crucial role for De Buffalos by contributing another goal. Orban reduced the deficit with his first league goal of the season in the 34th minute, and Torunarigha leveled the score in the 58th minute. St. Truiden’s goals were scored by Aboubakary Koita and Mathias Delorge Knieper.
AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)
Tolu Arokodare and Yira Sor both featured for Genk in their league match against Sporting Charleroi. However, they were unable to make a significant impact, and the game ended in a goalless draw. Sor was substituted for Joseph Paintsil during halftime, and Arokodare was replaced by Luca Oyen in the 58th minute.
CZECH REPUBLIC
QUADRI ADEDIRAN (CESKE BUDEJOVICE)
During the fifth matchday of the Fortuna Liga, Quadri Adediran showcased his scoring prowess by netting his first goal of the season for Ceske Budejovice in their 3-0 victory over Bohemians. The 22-year-old Lagos-born player opened the scoring for Ceske Budejovice just before halftime, with Lukas Havel and Pavel Osmancik adding the remaining goals.
DENMARK
TOCHI CHUKWUANI (LYNGBY)
Tochi Chukwuani, a 20-year-old midfielder, had a goal disallowed by VAR as his team Lyngby secured a 1-0 victory over Randers in the Danish Superliga. Chukwuani’s goal in the 65th minute was ruled out due to an offside decision. The midfielder has already found the back of the net once this season.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
Ademola Lookman enjoyed a promising start to the season with Atalanta, playing the full match as they clinched a 2-0 away victory against Sassuolo. The Nigerian winger’s consistent performance contributed to Charles De Ketelaere and Nadir Zortea scoring late goals to secure the win for Atalanta.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
CALVIN BASSEY (FULHAM)
Calvin Bassey made his Premier League debut for Fulham, although it came in a disappointing 3-0 loss at home against Brentford. Bassey entered the match as a substitute for Andreas Pereira in the 67th minute after center back Tim Ream was sent off. Bassey might earn his first start in the upcoming match against Arsenal.
FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)
Frank Onyeka, returning from an injury, was an unused substitute for Brentford in their commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
IHEANACHO, NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)
Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi continued to adapt to life in the Championship with Leicester City. Although both players made significant contributions, Leicester’s last-minute 2-1 victory over Cardiff City was secured by teenager Cesare Casadei, who scored a late winning goal. The win marked Leicester’s third victory in as many games this season.
UGBO, COLLINS (CARDIFF CITY)
Jamilu Collins, returning from a lengthy injury, featured for Cardiff in their 2-1 loss to Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Collins received a caution in the 87th minute, while Ike Ugbo, another Nigerian player in Cardiff’s lineup, was substituted for Yakou Meite at the beginning of the second half.
SCOTLAND
CYRIEL DESSERS (RANGERS)
Cyriel Dessers played a pivotal role in Rangers’ comeback victory, contributing a penalty goal and an assist to secure a 2-1 win in the Scottish League Cup.
ITALY
VICTOR OSIMHEN (NAPOLI)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen kicked off the new Serie A season with a bang, netting two goals in Napoli’s 3-1 away win over newly-promoted Frosinone. Fresh from winning the Serie A golden boot last season with 26 goals, Osimhen’s strong start suggests he could lead Napoli’s title charge once again.
TYRONNE EBUEHI (EMPOLI)
Tyronne Ebuehi played the full 90 minutes for Empoli in their season opener against Verona, which ended in a 1-0 loss at home.
MICHAEL FOLORUNSO (VERONA)
Michael Folorunsho made his Serie A debut for Verona, playing for 69 minutes in their 1-0 away victory over Empoli. Folorunsho was substituted for Riccardo Sapon
ara.
FRANCE
AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)
Akor Adams continued his impressive start to the season by scoring his third goal in two games on Saturday. His 89th-minute goal played a key role in Montpellier’s comprehensive 4-1 victory over former champions Lyon.
GERMANY
VICTOR BONIFACE (BAYERN LEVERKUSEN)
Victor Boniface, after an impressive pre-season, made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Leverkusen against RB Leipzig. He made an immediate impact by assisting Jeremie Frimpong’s goal in Leverkusen’s hard-fought 3-2 home win. In the second half, Boniface received a caution and was replaced by Adam Hlozek in the 89th minute. Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz were the other goal scorers for Leverkusen.
SPAIN
UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)
In the Spanish La Liga, Umar Sadiq continued his recovery process by playing 26 minutes in Real Sociedad’s 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo.
PORTUGAL
KELECHI NWAKALI (CHAVES)
Kelechi Nwakali provided an assist for Hector Hernandez Marrero, who scored GD Chaves’s first goal from his corner kick. However, Chaves suffered a disappointing 4-2 home defeat to Sporting Braga. Despite a brace from Hector, Chaves couldn’t overcome the goals from Simon Banza and Pizi, resulting in a 4-2 victory for Braga.
AWAZIEM, ONYEMAECHI (BOAVISTA)
Chidozie Awaziem and Bruno Onyeamaechi delivered solid defensive performances for Boavista in their impressive 4-1 away victory over Portimonense. Onyeamaechi also provided an assist for their second goal in the first half, scored by Robert Bozenik.
