Ajibade bags brace, assists in Atletico big win

•Boniface nets winner in Leverkusen thriller, Moses renders assist

The goals and assists keep coming for Nigerian players abroad as they continued their incredible run for their various clubs, ABIODUN ADEWALE recaps their performances

SUNDAY

SPAIN

RASHEEDAT AJIBDAE (ATLETICO MADRID)

After making an assist in their first game of the season last week, Super Falcons captain Ajibade returned a better performance on Sunday, grabbing two goals plus one assist in their 4-0 win away at Valencia.

The 24-year-old set up Gabriela Garcia for Atletico’s first goal in the 15th minute, while the scorer turned provider for Sheila Guijarro to double their lead in the 26th minute.

Ajibade grabbed her first goal of the game before halftime after controlling a lofty pass from Boe Risa with her chest before firing beyond the keeper from an acute angle inside the box. She benefitted from a defensive mix-up in stoppage time to get her second of the game and fourth goal contribution in two games this season. She could be on her way to recording another improved performance this season. Last season, she finished the league season with 10 goals and four assists in 30 games.

CHRISANTUS UCHE (GETAFE)

Uche has been a consistent starter for Getafe, but the 21-year-old has not been able to add to his goal contribution for Getafe as they played out a 1-1 draw at home against Leganes on Sunday. He played 67 minutes in the game.

BABAJIDE, GIFT (TENERIFE)

Super Falcons duo Rinsola Babajide and Gift Monday were cautioned and replaced as Costa Adeje Tenerife played out a goalless draw against Espanyol in a game that saw both sides finish with 10 players each.

Babajide received her yellow 14 minutes into the game and was taken off at halftime while Monday entered the referee’s books in the 58th minute. Last week, Babajide was the MVP for Tenerife, scoring a wonder goal in their 4-1 win over Sevilla.

ENGLAND

AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

One of the star performers in last week’s famous win over Liverpool at Anfield, Aina, was below that form as 10-man Forest secured a 2-2 draw against Brighton. His compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi, was an unused substitute.

The Tricky Trees opened the scoring via a Chris Wood penalty before Brighton equalised, thanks to a powerful Jack Hinshelwood’s header nearing the end of the first half. A poor tackle from Aina close to the 18-yard box then allowed Brighton to take the lead as Danny Welbeck scored the first free-kick of the 2024/25 Premier League to make it 2-1 for the hosts before Sosa rescued a point with his 70th-minute strike.

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (NANTES)

Nantes player of the month in August, Simon continued his fine run for the Yellow Canaries on Sunday by getting an assist in their 1-1 draw against Angers. The Nigerian set up Johann Lepenant for Nantes to take the lead in the 18th minute before the home side responded six minutes later. Simon has now been involved in four league goals this season, including two goals and one assist.

AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)

After scoring their consolation against Nantes last week, Adams kept his place in the Montpellier starting lineup, and he rewarded his coach with a brace in their nervy 3-2 win at home to Auxerre. His first goal of the day was an equaliser to make it 1-1, while the second secured the win over their stubborn visitors. The striker now has three goals in five league games this season.

GIFT ORBAN (LYON)

Having impressed in his previous two appearances with two goals, Orban kept his place in the Lyon starting line-up against Marseille.

MADUKA OKOYE (UDINESE)

There was no clean sheet for Maduka Okoye on Sunday as he conceded three goals in Udinese’s 3-0 defeat in the hands of Roma. He however saved three of the six shots he faced.

BELGIUM

AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare scored his sixth league goal of the season in just eight appearances, helping Gent to a 4-0 win over Beerschot on Sunday. His compatriot, Yira Sor who has also contributed one goal and four assists for the club in the league this season played just 16 minutes.

GERMANY

BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)

Victor Boniface scored a 93rd-minute winner as Bayer Leverkusen emerged victorious in a seven-goal thriller against Wolfsburg at the BayArena, avoiding the ignominy of becoming the first Bundesliga champion to ever fail to win their first two home matches.

With the game at 3-3 into stoppage time, Boniface stepped up to ensure all three points stayed with the champions as he pounced on a loose ball in the box to slam past Grabara to break the visitors’ hearts—the perfect warm-up ahead of Die Werkself’s meeting with Bayern Munich next week. The striker now has three goals and one assist in four league games this season.

ITALY

FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (LAZIO)

Super Eagles midfielder Dele-Bashiru was unused for the second consecutive game as Lazio fell to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina. The Nigerian has only played three games this season, one of which was his Serie A debut against Venezia, the only time he has played for 90 minutes.

MADUKA OKOYE (UDINESE)

There was no clean sheet for Maduka Okoye on Sunday as he conceded three goals in Udinese’s 3-0 defeat in the hands of Roma. He, however, saved three of the six shots he faced.

BELGIUM

AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare scored his sixth league goal of the season in just eight appearances, helping Gent to a 4-0 win over Beerschot on Sunday. His compatriot, Yira Sor, who has also contributed one goal and four assists for the club, played just 16 minutes.

USA

MICHELLE ALOZIE (HOUSTON DASH)

Alozie played her fifth consecutive NWSL game for Houston Dash this season, as they beat Seattle Reign 1-0 on Sunday. The defender featured for 90 minutes.

ETHIOPIA

Former Bendel Insurance keeper Obasogie made his Ethiopian league debut on Sunday in Fasil Kenema’s game away at St. George. The goalkeeper didn’t keep a clean sheet but he had a debut to remember as Kenema won 2-1 away from home.

SATURDAY

TURKEY

VICTOR OSIMHEN (GALATASARAY)

Still looking for his first goal for Galatasaray, Osimhen impressed in his second game and first derby to inspire Galatasaray to a memorable 3-1 victory against Fenerbahce at the Ulker Stadyumu Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on Saturday.

The Nigeria striker made his assists two-in-two by setting up his former Napoli teammate Dries Mertens for Gala’s second. Galatasaray did not get the memo as the champions took the lead in the 20th minute following an error from goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. Eight minutes later, Galatasaray grabbed their second of the encounter, with Osimhen providing the assist with a touch of his brilliance for Meterns. Expected to head the ball goalwards from a decent cross, the Super Eagles striker opted to chest the ball in the path of his former Napoli teammate, who calmly lobbed the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Former Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira set up Gabriel Sara to side-foot the visitors’ third goal, while veteran forward Edin Dzeko converted from the penalty spot shortly after to reduce the deficit for Fenerbahce, but the home side could not conjure up a comeback.

ENGLAND

IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)

Alex Iwobi has now made 30 assists in the English Premier League following his crucial role in Fulham’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle on Saturday. After Raul Jimenez opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Iwobi assisted Emile Smith Rowe for the second in the 22nd minute.

Harvey Barnes pulled one back for Newcastle after halftime, but Reiss Nelson sealed the win for Fulham in injury time. Iwobi and his compatriot, Calvin Bassey, featured throughout the game for Fulham, who are now eighth on the log with eight points from five matches.

WILFRED NDIDI (LEICESTER)

After delivering two assists last week, Ndidi continued his fine form for Leicester City in their 1-1 draw against Everton. The result means they are still searching for their first win in the EPL this season following their return from the Championship.

JOE ARIBO (SOUTHAMPTON)

Aribo saw his game time reduced at the St. Mary’s on Saturday in Southampton’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich. Southampton are yet to win on their return to the EPL, and Nigeria midfielder was an added-time replacement for Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes. He had sat out of their last league game against Manchester United.

VICTOR MOSES (LUTON)

Former Nigerian international Moses made his Luton Town debut on Saturday as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at the Kenilworth Road. Moses returned to England this summer after his contract with Russian side Spartak Moscow ended. He featured for just eight minutes in the game as they marked their second win of the season.

MAJA, AJAYI (WEST BROM)

Josh Maja’s clinical strike and sixth goal of the season ensured West Bromwich Albion continued their impressive form in the Sky Bet Championship with a narrow 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

The 25-year-old, who has been a standout performer this season, netted the decisive goal in the 62nd minute as the victory saw Albion extend their unbeaten run and remain top of the table. His compatriot, Semi Ajayi, was rock-solid in defence as the Baggies kept another clean sheet.

THE NETHERLANDS

CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)

Akpom, who has a goal and one assist in three games to his name this season, was an unused substitute as Ajax were held to a 1-1 draw at Go Ahead Eagles. The former champions have made a somewhat stuttering start to the season, with just seven points in four matches, although they have played two games less than other teams.

SPAIN

UMAR SADIQ (REAL SOCIEDAD)

After failing to impress in four consecutive games in which he started, Sadiq was dropped to the bench for the second La Liga game running and came on with 10 minutes left to play in their 0-0 draw at Valladolid.

CZECH REPUBLIC

IGOH OGBU (SLAVIA PRAGUE)

Former Gombe United man, Ogbu, suffered a facial fracture and went straight to the hospital after Slavia Prague’s 3-0 win over Plezen on Saturday. He was substituted in the 24th minute of the game. The defender has been consistent for Slavia this season, making eight appearances and helping the club stay top of the Czech league with 22 points.

SCOTLAND

DESSERS, BALOGUN (RANGERS)

Cyriel Dessers can’t stop scoring this season, getting his seventh of the campaign, a brace in their 3-0 league cup win over Dundee FC. He has three goals in the league, three in the cup, and one in the UEFA Champions League qualification round.

His compatriot, Leon Balogun, was an unused substitute. The defender has also made seven appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

SOUTH AFRICA

STANLEY NWABALI (CHIPPA UNITED)

Super Eagles first-choice keeper, Nwabali, continued in fine form at the club level, making four saves to help Chippa United seal a 1-0 win against Richards Bay in the South Africa PL. The club are seventh in the league table with three points after two games.