Galatasaray of Turkey returnee, Henry Onyekuru opened the rain of goals from Nigerian players across Europe this weekend, when he netted a brace to help his side reach the Turkey Cup quarter-finals, and Eberechi Eze followed suit for Crystal Palace of England.
Onyekuru struck barely 24 hours after arriving back on loan from AS Monaco of France, with option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season, which he showed he is very determined to get by hitting home both goals in his side’s 2-1 away to Gaziantep.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, alhough Onyekuru started on the bench alongside fellow-Nigerian duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Valentine Ozornwafor, Onyekuru proved his mettle soon after replacing Younes Belhanda at the break.
Despite playing his last competitive fixture last September, the 23-year-old needed just five minutes to underline his importance at the Turkish Super Lig club, as he broke the deadlock off a Ryan Babel assist.
The former KAS Eupen and RSC Anderlecht of Belgium attacker, who first joined Galatasaray on loan from Everton of England three years ago, opened scoring on 51 minutes and struck again in the 79th minute, to set up a home fixture against Alanyaspor in the last-eight next month.
Onyekuru, who the Super Lig and Turkish Cup double in his first spell at the Istanbul-based side, took to social media to reveal his delight, as he posted afterwards: “To God be the glory! Grateful for the victory and to be able to get back scoring ⚽️⚽️💛❤️🤟🏽.”
In Czech Republic, Peter Olayinka made it back to back goals for Slavia Prague in a 6-2 win away to Fastav Zlin, as the former KAA Gent of Belgium forward was handed his ninth league start of the season, after getting off the bench in their last two games.
Olayinka needed just three minutes to break the deadlock when he fired home from Abdallah Sima’s cut-back to put the visitors 1-0 up before Jan Kuchta made it 2-0 eight minutes later, after which the Nigerian attacker set up Jan Kuchta to make it 3-0 on 17 minutes.
Sima then made it 4-0 after the half-hour mark before Kuchta completed his hat-trick just before the break to make it 5-0, and Olayinka was part of the wild celebrations that followed immediately after the final whistle.
In France, FC Lorient’s Terem Moffi scored for the fourth straight French Ligue 1 game and helped his side beat fellow relegation battlers Dijon in a re-arranged fixture, thereby taking his haul to five goals since his arrival from KV Kortrijk of Belgium.
Moffi is justifying his summer signing for a record eight million Euro, and the all-action attacker crashed home a superb build-up play from the left side to draw Lorient level at 2-2 in the 58th minute.
The result lifted Moffi’s side off bottom spot on the table, but the last three clubs all have 15 points each with Lorient and rock-bottom Nimes yet to play against each other in a postponed clash.
In England, Eberechi Eze admitted he was happy scoring the only goal that gave The Eagles their first English Premier League victory since their win over Sheffield United on January 2, and the youngster described his match-winning goal as a reward for their hard work.
After helping his side end a four-match winless run on Saturday, the 22-year-old former Queens Park Rangers dazzler said he was happy to hit target on the hour and Roy Hodgson’s side a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
His effort was Palace’s maiden shot on target in the encounter, and it extended his tally to three EPL goals so far this season, all coming at Selhurst Park, with his side returning to winning ways after the 2-0 victory over Sheffield United, thereby making Eze happy about his contribution.
Eze, who is now hoping the Eagles can build on Saturday’s win when his side travel to Newcastle United on Monday, declared: “We don’t want to be looking behind us. We want to be putting in good performances and hopefully we can climb up the table
“It’s been a long time coming. We work hard all the time and it’s not come off for us, but today it worked so I’m grateful. We always put in the work and we’re always trying to give the best account of ourselves. It hasn’t always come off but today we put it right.
“I think with the quality that we’ve got in the team we’re capable of creating chances – we could have scored more. I just saw the ball roll across the box and tried my best to create a bit of space.”
