Soccernet.ng highlights some eye-catching displays from Nigerian footballers outside the country’s shores on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
BANGLADESH
In the Bangladeshi Premier League, Ifegwu Ojukwu assisted Abu Azeez in scoring Abahani Chittagong’s consolation goal in their 4-1 loss away to Bashundhara Kings.
ENGLAND
In the Premier League, Frank Onyeka was a second-half substitute as his Brentford fell to a 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Ola Aina was solid at left-back for Nottingham Forest as they pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory against Manchester United at the City Ground.
The win hands Firest a five-point gap with the relegation zone.
ISRAEL
Goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye shook off the disappointment of being omitted from Nigeria’s final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to help Hapoel Jerusalem beat ten-man Hapoel Petah Tikva 2-1 inside the HaMoshava Stadium.
Fortune Bassey featured for the losing team.
Another victory
— ADEBAYO ADELEYE (@GAdebayoAdeleye) December 31, 2023another great performance today.
We keepgoing and keep getting better as we take one step at a time. pic.twitter.com/d29WJtINbu
Philip Ipole netted a 42nd-minute own goal as his Hapoel Hadera suffered a huge 4-1 home defeat to Maccabi Netanya.
ITALY
In the Italian Serie A, Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was named in Udinese’s starting lineup for the first time as they hosted high-flying Bologna.
Okoye made his Serie A debut a memorable one as he made five saves to help Udinese keep a clean sheet and record a 3-0 victory over their guests.
Isaac Success was a second-half sub for Udinese in the encounter.
At the Unipol Domus, Tyronne Ebuehi impressed in defence for Empoli as they forced their hosts Cagliari to a goalless draw.
In Bergamo, Ademola Lookman scored the only goal of the game – a fine low drive from outside the box – to hand Atalanta a 1-0 win over Lecce.
It is Lookman’s seventh league goal of the season and his 16th in an incredible 2023 for club and country.
Simy Nwankwo and Chukwubuike Ikwuemesi both featured as Salernitana claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Verona.
At the San Siro, Samuel Chukwueze saw action in the second half of Milan’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Sassuolo.
PORTUGAL
After being included in Nigeria’s final AFCON squad, Chidozie Awaziem and Bruno Onyemaechi played their part in Boavista’s slim 1-0 loss at Gil Vicente.
SAUDI ARABIA
Odion Ighalo will not end 2023 as Nigeria’s top goalscorer of the year after firing blanks in Al Wehda’s tough 1-0 defeat against Al Shabab.
Ighalo claimed the honour in 2022 when his 27 goals beat Onuachu’s 21.
Despite Ighalo repeating the feat and mustering 27 goals in all competitions combined for Al-Hilal and current club Al-Wehda, Osimhen will end 2023 as Nigeria’s highest-scoring player with 29 goals for Napoli.
The Africa Player of the Year also has another five goals for Nigeria in 2023, taking his total tally for club and country this year to 34.
SCOTLAND
In the Premiership, Leon Balogun received his first red card of the season as ten-man Glasgow Rangers succumbed to a 2-1 loss to bitter rivals Celtic.
Cyriel Dessers was on the pitch from start to finish for the Gers, but he could not find his range against the league leaders.
SOUTH AFRICA
After being named in Nigeria’s AFCON squad, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili shipped two goals as his Chippa United were humbled 2-0 at TS Galaxy.
TUNISIA
In the Tunisian Ligue 1, former Kano Pillars star Godspower Aniefiok netted the winner for EGS Gafsa as they carved out a 1-0 victory over visiting Olympique Béja.
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