Round up: Gift, Akpom on target as Tenerife, Ajax win

•Monday’s third league goal powers Tenerife over Betis

•Akpom on target in Ajax win

On a weekend that had Nigerian stars get their invitations to the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifying double header against Libya, Super Falcons striker Gift Monday grabbed the headlines with her third goal of the season. ABIODUN ADEWALE reports

SUNDAY

SPAIN

MONDAY, BABAJIDE (TENERIFE)

Super Falcons striker Gift Monday grabbed her third league goal of the season, powering Tenerife to a 1-0 win over Betis. Monday scored immediately after the restart by turning home a cross from Aleksandra Zaremba. Her compatriot, Rinsola Babajide, who has won two MVP awards from the club this season, was also involved for 76 minutes.

Gift Monday

THE NETHERLANDS

CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)

Akpom proved he deserved a regular place in Ajax’s starting lineup as he came off the bench to score in their 3-1 win against Groningen. He has started only one league game this season and was the same on Sunday, coming in for Brian Brobbery in the 59th minute with the score at 1-0 in their favour. Their visitors, however, levelled matters 10 minutes later, but Akpom, who now has two goals and one assist in four games, made his presence count with their third goal in stoppage time after Weghorst had given them the lead.

EJUKE, IHEANACHO (SEVILLA)

Super Eagles returnee Chidera Ejuke was handed his fifth start of the season as Sevilla beat Real Betis 1-0  at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in the Spanish La Liga on Sunday. His compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho, who has struggled to hold down a place in the starting lineup, was named on the bench.

ENGLAND

AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

Another great shift for Ola Aina in defence as Nottingham secured a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge despite playing the last 15 minutes of the game with 10 men. The 27-year-old is yet to miss a game this season and has only been booked once. His compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi, was an unused substitute.

TONI PAYNE (EVERTON)

Payne is yet to open her account for Everton Women this season, mustering just 31 minutes in their goalless draw at Arsenal on Sunday. She came on as a second-half substitute for her third appearance in the English women’s league.

USA

ASISAT OSHOALA (BAY FC)

Oshoala was on target again for Bay FC in the early hours of Sunday, but her goal in the second successive game wasn’t enough to prevent a 5-1 hammering by Gotham Women. The Nigeria striker scored in the 18th minute to make the score 1-1, but they capitulated in the last 20 minutes of the game by letting in four goals. Oshoala, meanwhile, has seven goals and one assist in 22 games in her NWSL debut season.

ITALY

FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (LAZIO)

Dele-Bashiru was left on the bench for the fourth consecutive Serie A game as Lazio laboured to a 2-1 win over Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico. His last action in the league was a 10-minute appearance against AC Milan in August. He was however handed starting places in their two UEFA Europa League games, scoring in the first of those against Dynamo Kyiv.

KEVIN MARTINS (MONZA)

Kevin, the son of former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins, was named on the bench for Monza for the second time in the Serie A this season as they faced AS Roma. He had debuted against Napoli in September, playing four minutes in their 2-0 loss.

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (NANTES)

Simon was caged, and the Canaries were shut by Lyon in a 2-0 defeat on Sunday, marking their second defeat this term. The winger has two goals and two assists in seven games this season.

AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)

Another bad day in office for Adams and Montpellier, no thanks to a 4-2 defeat at Stade Reims. The striker was also booked in the first half for unsportsmanlike conduct in their fifth defeat of seven games this season. Adams has three goals and one assist so far, despite their struggles.

CYPRUS

FRANCIS UZOHO (OMONIA)

There is still no place for Uzoho in Omonia Nicosia’s starting lineup this season, with the goalkeeper enduring another 90 minutes on the bench in their league clash against Aris. The Nigerian goalkeeper is yet to feature in the Cyrus top division this season.

CZECH REPUBLIC

VICTOR OLATUNJI (SPARTA PRAGUE)

With three goals in eight games before Sunday, Olatunji led Sparta Prague’s attack as they faced local rivals Slavia Prague in a derby at the Fortuna Arena.

TURKEY

DAVID OKEREKE (GAZIANTEP)

Former Cremonese man Okereke made his fourth appearance for Gaziantep in the Turkish topflight as they hosted Besiktas on Sunday. He made an assist in their previous game against Eyupspor, a 3-2 loss.

SATURDAY

ENGLAND

WILFRED NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)

No assist for Ndidi this week, but he was instrumental in a deeper midfield role as Leicester grabbed their first win of the season, beating Bournemouth 1-0 at the King Power Stadium. He was given a yellow card in the 50th minute for tripping an opponent. The Foxes’ goal was scored by defender Justin James.

IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)

Super Eagles stars Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were in action for Fulham FC as they suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Both Nigeria internationals put in solid performances for the Cottagers. Bassey, playing the full 90 minutes in defence, showcased his composure and strength at the back, while Iwobi, starting in midfield, made a positive impact before being substituted in the 77th minute for Reiss Nelson.

JOE ARIBO (SOUTHAMPTON)

Aribo returned to the starting lineup for Southampton against Arsenal. Life back in the EPL hasn’t gone well for the Saints, no thanks to a 3-1 capitulation against the Gunners. The Saints stunned Arsenal first in the 55th minute through Cameron Acher, but their hosts responded swiftly through Kai Havertz, Gabby Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka.

Southampton are still without a win in seven games.

VICTOR MOSES (LUTON)

Former Super Eagles winger Moses got his second start for Luton and played 90 minutes, but he couldn’t help them from losing 2-0 at Sheffield United.

TOM DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)

Dele-Bashiru was once again impressive in his midfield role for Watford in their 2-1 win over Middleborough. He has two goals in eight games this season.

MAJA, AJAYI (WEST BROM)

Josh Maja fired blanks in attack, but Semi Ajayi was solid at the back in West Brom’s goalless draw at home against Millwall. Maja, who has scored an impressive seven goals and one assist in nine games this season, was caged despite playing 90 minutes.

GERMANY

BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)

Victor Boniface continued his impressive goalscoring form for Bayer Leverkusen, finding the net in a second consecutive match as the Bundesliga champions drew 2-2 against Holstein Kiel in a thrilling Game Week 6 encounter at BayArena on Saturday.

The Nigeria international opened the scoring for his team four minutes into the game, marking his second goal in as many last matches following his decisive strike in their UEFA Champions League victory against AC Milan earlier in the week.

ITALY

MADUKA OKOYE (UDINESE)

It was the second clean sheet in the Serie A this season for Okoye, who also made three saves to help Udinese beat Lecce 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)

In a 68-minute appearance for Atalanta, Lookman registered his second assist of the season to help the Europa League winners beat Genoa 5-1. Lookman was the provider of their first goal, setting up Mateo Retegui, who eventually scored a hattrick in the game.

SPAIN

CHRISANTUS UCHE (GETAFE)

Uche played 74 minutes in Getafe’s 1-1 draw against Osasuna, but the vastly improved player was unable to add to his goal tally since their first game of the season.

BELGIUM

AROKODARE, SOR (GENK)

While Yira Sor was absent, there was no goal for Tolu Arokodare as Genk suffered a 2-1 defeat at Kortrijk. Despite scoring first inside six minutes, their hosts responded with two quick goals through Spanish forward Nacho.

LATVIA

ABIODUN OGUNNIYI (FK AUDA)

Ogunniyi was on the scoresheet for FK Auda, who lost 2-1 at Laipaja. The former Nigeria U-23 midfielder came on in the second half of the game, grabbing the goal, which served as a mere consolation in stoppage time.