Stars Abroad: Onyekuru off the mark, Iwobi scores, Balogun makes winning debut

Iwobi, Onyekuru all scored for their club sides this weekend while Balogun made an impressive debut.

Actions continued in different leagues all over the world and a host of Nigerian players were in action for their respective clubs.

We review the performances of foreign-based Nigerian players.

In England

We start in the Premier League where Alex Iwobi had an impressive game for Arsenal in their 2-3 loss away at Chelsea. Iwobi made an assist and scored a goal in the first half of the encounter.

Alex Iwobi's 2018/2019 Premier League season

Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was as usual very solid for Leicester City who recorded a home 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ndidi played all the 90 minutes.

 

His compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho started from the bench but played the final eight minutes of the game.

Nigerian forward Isaac Success was on for the final minutes of Watford’s 3-1 away win at Burnley.

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun made his Premier League debut for Brighton and Hove in their surprise 3-1 home win over Manchester United. Balogun was introduced in the 20th minute after an injury and lead the Brighton defence in the huge win over Manchester United.

 

In the Championship, Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo played the final six minutes of Stoke City's 2-2 away draw at Preston North End.

In Turkey

Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru is off the mark in Turkey after scoring his first competitive goal for Galatasaray. Onyekuru scored the only goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 home win over Goztepe.

 

Nigerian defender Sincere Seth was impressive at right-back again as Yeni Malatyaspor beat Fenerbahce 1-0 at home.

Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi played the whole 90 minutes in Trabzonspor’s 3-1 home win over Sivasspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Nigerian forward Aminu Umar played 85 minutes of Rizespor's 1-1 away draw at Akhisarspor.

In Italy

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong made his debut straight away for Udinese and played the whole 90 minutes in their 2-2 draw away at Parma.

 

Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi played the final 12 minutes in his debut for Chievo Verona who lost 2-3 at home to reigning champions Juventus.

After making a loan switch from Chelsea, Nigerian defender made his debut for Torino. Ola Aina came off the early and played 65 minutes as Torino were beaten 1-0 at home to Roma.

In Denmark

The Nigerian duo of Paul Onuachu and Frank Onyeka were in action for FC Midtjylland in their 1-1 away draw at OB Odense in the Danish Superliga.

Onuachu played in the final 29 minutes while could manage only seven minutes.

In Belgium

Nigerian striker Denis Bonaventure played the whole 90 minutes of Club Brugge’s 1-1 away draw at Royal Antwerp.

Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel played just 10 minutes of Kortrijk’s 1-2 home loss to Oostende on Saturday while his compatriot and teammate Abdul Ajagun played 63 minutes in the game.

Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi played for 46 minutes in Gent’s 3-2 away win at Eupen.

In Austria

Nigerian player Bright Edomwonyi netted a brace for Austria Wien in their 4-0 home win over Admira Moedling in the Austria Bundesliga.

In Portugal

In the Primeira Liga, Nigerian midfielder Alhassan Ibrahim played the whole 90 minutes in Nacional’s 1-2 home loss to  2-1 Moreirense in Portugal.

In Bulgaria

Super Eagles defender Stephen Eze played 90 minutes and was impressive for Lokomotiv Plovdiv's 1-0 win away at Botev Plovdiv.

In Norway

Nigerian midfielder Afeez Aremu played the whole 90 minutes of IK Start’s 1-1 draw away at  Stromsgodset in the Eliteserien.

His teammate and compatriot Adeleke Akinyemi was substituted in the 79th minute of the game.

In France

Young Nigerian forward Samuel Kalu made his Ligue 1 debut for Bordeaux who were beaten 2-1 away at Toulouse. Kalu played for the who 90 minutes of that game.

In Slovenia

 

Nigerian striker Amarachi Osuji scored the only goal for Gorica in their 1-0 win over Domzale in the Slovenian PrvaLiga.