There was a harvest of goals for Nigerian layers across Europe on Sunday, as Sheyi Ojo and Ademola Lookman both hit target in England’s respective leagues, while Ike Ugbo was on song in Belgium and while Super Eagles’ new drilling sensation, Chidera Ejuke made hay in Russia.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, leading the rain of goals on Sunday was Ojo, who is on loan from Liverpool of England to Cardiff City of Wales, as he hit target in the lower division English Championship and helped The Bluebirds to a 1-0 win away to Preston North End.
Preston had a few good chances of their own but lacked a killer bite in front of goal as they slipped to a third league defeat of the campaign, as 23-year-old Ojo scored his first league goal for 34 months.
The breakthrough came seven minutes after the break when Preston were caught sleeping after a superb counter-attack from the visitors, who edged ahead in a scrappy showdown and made it five unbeaten away from home in England’s lower division.
Ojo, who is now at his sixth loan club, was strong to hold off two defenders and clinical as he picked out the top-right corner with his delicious strike, after he collected the ball from Moore in a flowing move, went on a mazy run and smashed past helpless Preston ‘keeper Declan Rudd.
Also in the Championship, former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi dazzled for Stoke City in their 2-0 win away to Luton Town and the 33-year-old ex-Chelsea ace, who has started all four of his new club’s games was again in full duration action at Kenilworth Road.
After a goalless first half which saw the visitors do most of the defending, with Mikel impressive in the middle of the park, they turned on the heat in the second half as Steven Fletcher scored less than 40 seconds after the restart to hand Stoke the lead.
The Potters then doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Nick Powel converted from a Nathan Collins assist to make it 2-0 and Mikel got a rating of 7.0, completing 82% of his passes, winning five duels, three tackles, two clearances, blocked a shot and achieved one interception.
Ademola Lookman also scored for Fulham in the English Premier League, even as Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a penalty and then gave away one at the other end as Fulham and Sheffield United played out a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams came into this one under a cloud of nerves having not taken any points from any of their EPL fixtures this season and Lookman’s fine strike 13 minutes from time seemed to have handed Scott Parker’s men victory.
Lookman struck in the 77th minute, but Mitrovic, who had already blazed over a penalty (57), fouled Jack Robinson inside the area which was spotted by VAR and Billy Sharp fired home the equaliser from 12 yards (85).
Playing alongside Lookman was Manchester City product, Tosin Adarabioyo, who put up an excellent performance, with a sterling outing coming from the 23-year-old central defender, who did not get the chance to play in the English top-flight during his 17-year stay at Etihad Stadium,
Adarabioyo, who had been an unused substitute on eight occasions before starring Sunday in the EPL, was a revelation at the back against The Blades, and was close to helping Fulham keep their first clean sheet of the season until the 85th minute when Billy Sharp converted a spot kick to draw his team level.
In Belgium, Ike Ugbo scored his first career brace to help Cerlce Brugge hammer KAA Gent at Jan Breydelstadion, as the former England U17 international, who is on loan from Chelsea, struck twice to take his tally for the season to four in seven games.
Ugbo, who also impressed at Roda JC Kerkrade of Holland last term, with 13 goals in 29 matches, first hit home a rebound to make it 3-1 on 57 minutes and, after Yaremchuk converted from the spot, the Nigerian-born youngster got his brace in the 78th minute to make sure of three points.
In Portugal, Zaidu Sanusi got a fantastic display on his first start for FC Porto as he provided one assist to help them to a 2-2 draw away to Sporting Lisbon, as the former Santa Clara left-back made the best of the departure of Brazilian ace, Alex Telles to Manchester United.
Porto were trailing after just nine minutes when Nuno Santos put Sporting 1-0 up, despite the visitors seeing more of the ball in the opening exchanges, but Sanusi, who debuted for the Super Eagles the previous weekend against Algeria helped his side romp back and settle for a draw.
In Russia, Ejuke scored his second goal for CSKA Moscow to win the Classic Derby against Dynamo Kiev 3-1; as the winger, who made his Super Eagles debut against Tunisia last Tuesday, hit target on 54 minutes to make it 2-0 but he was later replaced in the 62th minute.
In Spain, Samuel Chukwueze played a key role and helped Villareal return to winning ways at Estadio de la Ceramica, where his team defeated Valencia 2-1 to move to the top of La Liga table on Sunday.
Chukwueze impressed in the encounter, as The Yellow Submarine consolidated on their previous goalless draw against Atletico Madrid last time out, with the dazzling left-footer inspiring their first goal in the encounter.
He delivered a fine cross into the area and Gabriel Paulista brought down Mario Gaspar as he attempted to connect to Chukwueze’s cross, and the referee awarded a penalty to Villarreal, which Paco Alcacer swiftly dispatched into the net.
