Nigerian Players In Europe: Lookman Assists, Osimhen Scores As Zaidu’S Error Leads To Goal

Many Nigerian players were involved in this week’s European competitions, and here is a quick recap of how some of them performed.

UEFA Champions League

Starting with the UEFA Champions League, Super Eagles first-choice striker Victor Osimhen returned to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday when Galatasaray battled Lille. The 27-year-old centre-forward, who was with the Ligue 1 side during the 2019/20 season, found the back of the net in the 61st minute, taking the scoreline to 4-2.

Interestingly, Osimhen didn't celebrate the goal. Instead, he formed a heart with his fingers towards the home fans out of respect for the club that boosted his fame and recognition as a young striker. 

At the time of this report, Galatasaray occupy 23rd spot in the Champions League standings with three points from three games (two defeats, one win).

A night earlier, on Tuesday at the MHPArena, Ademola Lookman came off the bench at half-time to set up Atlético Madrid’s equaliser against VfB Stuttgart in a 1-1 draw. 

The Nigerian winger, who is struggling for form and game time this season, needed just one minute to make his presence count as he delivered the pass that Julián Álvarez finished in the 47th minute.

With a goal and an assist in three Champions League games, Lookman will hope to return to Diego Simeone’s starting lineup when Atlético welcome Bayern Munich to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in their next UCL fixture on 3 November.

Elsewhere, Super Eagles and Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi had a game to forget when his side faced PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, as his error led to the only goal of the encounter. 

Zaidu, who had been out of the team for over seven weeks due to an adductor injury, was named in Francesco Farioli’s starting XI, but the decision did not go according to plan. Esmir Bajraktarević dispossessed Zaidu, drove towards Porto's box and delivered a cutback that Guus Til converted in the 57th minute.

Less than 13 minutes after his error, Zaidu was replaced by Souza. Porto have now lost all three of their Champions League games this season.

Finally, four Nigerians featured for Slavia Prague in their 2-2 draw against Fenerbahçe on Tuesday. Mubarak Suleiman became the first Nigerian teenager to start a Champions League match since Alex Iwobi in 2016, as he was in the starting XI alongside two compatriots, Emmanuel Ayaosi and David Moses. Ayaosi assisted Pavel Kačor’s 90th-minute equaliser, while Samuel Isife came in from the bench when the score was 2-1 in Fenerbahçe’s favour.

UEFA Europa League

In the Europa League, Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi found the net for Besiktas in their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Thursday. Ndidi started the game but was substituted in the 75th minute. He scored his first Europa League goal of the campaign in first-half stoppage time (45+2).

As it stands, Besiktas are eighth in the standings with seven points from three games, as they hope to finish in the top eight.

UEFA Conference League

Elsewhere, forgotten Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers was on the scoreboard for Panathinaikos on Thursday, scoring twice in their 5-1 away win over Kairat Almaty.

Lastly, Tolu Arokodare continued his goalscoring form for Ajax as he found the back of the net against Atalanta. His  87th-minute effort from close range gave the Eredivisie side the lead before setting up Abdellah Ouazane’s stoppage-time goal in a 2-0 win. 

So far, he has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for Ajax, who might trigger the permanent signing option in his loan deal from Wolves.

Following the result, Ajax now sit 13th on the Conference League table with three points from two games.

In a nutshell, Osimhen, Ndidi, Dessers and Arokodare scored, Lookman assisted, but Zaidu’s costly error tempered a joyful European week for Nigerian fans.