Arokodare lone scorer as Nigerian stars have quiet Sunday

Nigerian players had relatively poor outings with their foreign clubs on Sunday. Only Tolu Arokodare was among the goals, with a couple of notable players missing in action, writes GODWIN AIKIGBE

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (Strasbourg 3-1 Nantes)

The 29-year-old in-form forward was not listed for Nantes, who succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Strasbourg in a Ligue 1 game week 9 fixture at Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg.

17’Andrey Santos bagged a brace, opening the scoring on 17 minutes and doubled the lead on 57 minutes, while 73’Dilane. Bakwa made it 3-0 for the home side before Bahereba Guirassy pulled one back for the visitors seven minutes from regulation time.

Before Sunday’s match, Simon had participated in all eight of the team’s Ligue 1 matches in 2024/2025, consistently starting all eight.

He has scored two goals and rendered three assists and last ran out with the side on October 20 versus Nice, providing an assist in the side’s 1-1 draw.

AKOR ADAMS ( Montpellier 0-3 Toulouse)

The bull-strong striker made his ninth start for Montpellier but was largely ineffectual as his team slumped to a 3-0 home defeat to Toulouse at Stade de la Mosson-Mondial 98 in Montpellier.

The Nigerian prospect has played in every one of their eight Ligue 1 games in 2024/2025, being selected in the starting XI in eight of these and coming on as a substitute on one occasion.

The 24-year-old is ranked joint ninth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts with a total of three goals this season, as well as being the team’s top league scorer. Adams has also provided one assist as well—the joint second most for the team. He last scored in the league with a brace in the 3-2 win against Auxerre on September 22.

GERMANY

KEVIN AKPOGUMA (Heidenheim 0-0 Hoffenheim)

The 29-year-old defender continued his impressive run with Hoffenheim, being named in the starting line-up against Heidenheim in a Bundesliga Game Week 8 fixture at Voith-Arena, Heidenheim an der Brenz.

The Nigeria international has played in every one of their eight Bundesliga matches in 2024/2025, an ever-present feature by starting in all eight.

Next up in the league for Hoffenheim is a trip to Heidenheim on October 27.

In last season’s Bundesliga, Akpoguma played in 17 games for Hoffenheim.

ITALY

FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU, DAVID ANKEYE

Providing an assist in Lazio’s 2-0 UEFA Europa League victory at Twente couldn’t earn the Nigeria playmaker a nod in their 3-0 win over Genoa in a Serie A Game Week 9 fixture at Stadio Olimpico, Roma.

He watched proceedings from the bench as 21 Tijjani Noslin, Pedro, and Matías Vecino struck on 21, 86, and four minutes in added time, respectively, to secure the maximum points.

He has made three league appearances for the club since joining them from Hatayspor in the summer.

David Ankeye, a striker, was in action for Genoa, being introduced into the match on 62 minutes in place of Thorsby.

It was his third Serie A fringe appearance in his second season with Genoa following his arrival from Sheriff Moldova.

BELGIUM

RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (Club Brugge 2 – 1 Anderlecht)

Expectedly, the strong Brugge midfielder played throughout as his club edged Anderlecht 2-1 in a Belgian First Division A Game Week 12 encounter at Jan Breydelstadion, Brugge.

The 23-year-old, who is currently courted by a string of top European clubs, including Galatasaray and Crystal Palace, starred as Romeo Vermant and Chemsdine Talbi scored in each half to hand them all three points.

Onyedika has started in all his 10 appearances across Brugge’s 12 fixtures this season.

VICTOR UDOH (Royal Antwerp 1-0 Standard Liège)

Little known Udoh was in action for Royal Antwerp. They edged Standard Liege 1-0 at home and extended their unbeaten run to six in the First Division A matches at Bosuilstadion, Deurne.

It was the 20-year-old’s striker’s ninth outing with the team this season.

TOLU AROKODARE, JORDAN TORUNARIGHA, YIRA SOR (Gent 0-2 Genk)

Arokodare was on target in 46 minutes for Genk, taking his tally to eight as the visitors outclassed Gent 2-0 on the road.

This came on the back of his impressive outing against Sint-Truiden on October 20, netting once and providing an assist in their 3-2 win.

The attacker, who has started in all 11 appearances this term, is top of the First Division A goalscoring charts with a tally of eight goals this campaign.

Jordan Torunarigha featured for Gent, as the defender played from the start, his fifth across their 11 matches in the elite division.

Nigeria forward Yira Sor was also listed for Genk, but the 24-year-old watched from the bench as Arokodare wrote Nigeria’s name gold.

He played in 10 matches, making the starting line-up on half of those occasions.

SPAIN

CHRISTANSUS UCHE (Getafe 1-1 Valencia)

The burgeoning Nigeria prospect started from the bench for Getafe, who forced visiting Valencia to a 1-1 draw in a La Liga Game Week 11 clash at Estadio Coliseum in Getafe.

He came on for Alvaro Rodriguez in the 46th minutes, 10 minutes after Barrenechea fired the visitors in front, while Mauro Arambarri clinically converted from the spot to help the home to a share of the spoils.

It was Uche’s 10th appearance for Getafe with a goal to his name, in a 1-1 draw at home to Bilbao on August 15.

THE NETHERLANDS

CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX 1-0 WILLEM II)

The 29-year-old Nigeria prospect leered from the bench as Davy Klaassen’s 6th minute penalty goal secured all three points for Ajax against Willen II at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

He has started two of his five matches for the Dutch giants this season, scoring twice and rendering an assist across their seven fixtures.

TURKEY

BRIGHT OSAYI-SAMUEL, GABRIEL OBEKPA (Fenerbahce 2 – 0 Bodrum)

The Nigeria midfielder saw full-time action for Fenerbahce, who defeated Bodrum 2-0 in a Süper Lig Game Week 10 fixture at Ülker Stadyumu, Fenerbahçe, with goals from En-Nesyri (15) and evergreen Eden Džeko (55).

It was his third start in as many appearances for Jose Mourinho’s team this season.

Little-known midfielder Gabriel Obekpa was an unused substitute for the visitors. The 20-year-old has featured in two matches, making the starting lineup on both occasions.