At the Weekend there were several matches across Europe that had Nigerian players paired up for their teams of facing off against themselves for precious points.
Here’s a quick look at those Nigerian battles fought across many great football arenas across Europe.
England
Huddersfield 1-1 Leicester City
Striker, Kelechi Iheanacho is gradually settling down to his new environment at the King Power Stadium after the Summer move from Man City.
However, he is yet to fully make his mark showing some of that frustration in Saturday’s PL match against Huddersfield.
Although he did play a part in Leicester’s equalizer.
His back heel pass to Jamie Vardy inside the box was exquisite before the England International was hacked down and the resultant penalty converted.
The 20-year-old played only 69 minutes and had two shots on goal. He made 28 passes in the game but with a 53.6% accuracy.
Another Nigerian, Wilfred Ndidi was also involved involved in that game, and he saw 90 minutes of action.
Ndidi was solid in the midfield for the Foxes and also pushed forward to help with the attack.
He had a goal attempt and blocked a goal-bound shot. 50 passes the 20-year-old made, with a 66% accuracy.
Watford 0-6 Man City
This game was a major talking point at the weekend. Man City went on a rampage, pounding the Hornets for six.
On the bench for Marcos Silva’s men was Isaac Success. The forward has not really had game time in the Premier League this season.
Brentford 1-1 Reading
Sone Aluko played 90 minutes for Reading, but did not score and his side settled for a point in the draw.
Hull City 1-1 Sunderland
Right back Ola Aina played 90 minutes at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday in a 3-4-3 formation.
Recently switching national allegiance from England to Nigeria, Aina is yet to win his international debut, but with more game time under his belt and impressive performances, he will get there.
Germany
Bayern Munich 4-0 Mainz 05
Centre-back Leon Balogun was deployed on the left side of a three-man defence by Mainz 05 Manager Sandro Schwarz.
Balogun was in the eye of Bayern’s firing line and despite the peppering, Balogun featured for the duration of the game putting was good numbers.
He had a goal attempt and one shot on goal. Balogun put in the shift in defence throwing his body against three goal-bound shots.
Bayern Munich had more possession starving their opponents of the ball, but for his 16 touches on the ball, the 29-year-old made it count, scoring 75% pass accuracy.
France
Nantes 1-0 Caen
Defender, Chidozie Awaziem played a huge role in Nantes’ victory, providing the assist for the only goal of the game.
Playing in a high line set up, the 20-year-old defender took down a long clearance on the chest and set up eventual goalscorer, Andrei Girotto.
Awaziem played 90 minutes.
Italy
Fiorentina 2 – 1 Bologna
At just 19, Orji Okonkwo would hope he’ll make his mark in the Serie A fast enough to catch the eyes of the biggest teams in Italy. On Saturday, the striker was handed a cameo at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The Nigerian youngster had only 8 touches on the day with a 100% pass rate.
Belgium
Kortrijk 2-2 Anderlecht
Abdul Jeleel Ajagun scored his first goal in Belgium since his move from Roda. It came in the 52nd minute, drawing Kortrijk level after Anderlecht had taking the lead.
But another Nigerian will turn up for his club and he did so in style coming from the bench.
Henry Onyekuru netted a 75th minute goal 12 minutes after coming off the bench for the Jupiler League champions.
Onyekuru earned his side a point having lost the advantage in the game. But he was also booked for a foul in the 87th minute.
Turkey
Yeni Malatyaspor 2-4 Bursaspor
Azubuike Okechukwu played 90 minutes, his fifth of the season but it ended with a defeat on this occasion for the player and Yeni Malatyaspor.
Meanwhile, William Troost Ekong scored his first goal for Bursaspor and a strong display at the back in the win.
He played 90 minutes as did his Nigerian teammate and midfielder, Mikel Agu.
Agu would however go on to get a caution in the 29th minute, but played the entire duration.
Galatasaray 2-0 Kasimpasa
Kasimpasa had two Nigerians in the matchday squad with one starting and the other coming off the bench.
Emem Eduok led the attack for Kasimpasa but could not breach the Galatasaray attack.
He was booked in the 30th minute and eventually replaced in the second half on 54 minutes.
Kenneth Omeruo was introduced in the 67th minute, but he could not stop his side from conceding again.
Greece
Olympiakos Piraeus 1-1 Asteras Tripolis
Emmanuel Emenike starting from the bench on Saturday for Greek champions Olympiakos. The 30-year-old was involved from the get go as he entered the fray in the 57th minute.
Olympiakos trailed in the match till the fourth minute of added on time, before they got a penalty of their own to level 1-1 and settle for a point.
On Sunday
England
Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
Victor Moses returned to Chelsea’s Starting XI after a break in the UEFA Champions League.
He started and played 90 minutes in the first London Derby against Arsenal in the PL.
The 26-year-old played all 90 minutes at the Bridge on Sunday and a couple of goal attempts.
He was very much involved in the game defending for parts of the game and also transitioning in attack.
For Arsenal, Alex Iwobi started and despite his more subdued role on Sunday, he managed an impressive 91.4% accuracy for his 35 passes on the day.
Netherlands
Ado Den Haag 1-1 Ajax
Tyronne Ebuehi played the entire duration of Den Haag’s defiant show against Ajax. The 21-year-old right back showed no signs of pressure he helped his team put off waves of Ajax’s attack.
Vitesse 1-1 Venlo
19-year-old Attacking Midfielder Kelechi Nwakali came off the bench on minute 75 as Venlo settled for a point.
Belgium
Oostende 0-2 Gent
Moses Simon and Anderson Esiti both played 90 minutes of action for Gent as their club registered three more points in the Jupiler League.
Oostende had a Nigerian, Joseph Akpala on the bench, but he would not see any game action.
Eupen 1-1 Standard Liege
Uche Agbo was booked in the 56th minute in Liege’s draw, but he was very solid in the midfield; forming part of a five-man wall.
He will see 80 minutes eventually, before he was replaced.
Turkey
Basaksehir 2-2 Trabzonspor
Onazi Ogenyi came off the bench again for Trabzonspor, but the midfielder did not score on this occasion.
Onazi was introduced with four minutes left as his side settled for a point.
Osmanlispor 2-4 Sivasspor
Elderson Echiejile got 50 minutes of quality football under his belt on Sunday in the Super Lig for Sivasspor.
The Left-back came on in the 40th minute and helped his side shut the door against Osmanlispor’s attack.
Eventually, Sivasspor did go on to score two more after the 29-year-old was introduced.
