Nigerian Exports: Obi Opens Torino Account; Kayode Scores; Efe &Omeruo Impress; Uche Benched; Dauda Dismissed

Published: May 15, 2016

Catch up on the performances of players of Nigerian descent in the European Leagues on Sunday.

Fred Onyedinma was an unused substitute in Millwall’s 3-1 win against Bradford City in the Football League One Semi-final, Game 1 at Valley Parade.

In the Italian Serie A, Joel Chukwuma Obi opened his account for Torino in their 2-1 loss to Empoli at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

The ex-Inter Milan starlet was first booked in the 27th minute before pulling a goal back for his team in the 56th minute. Obi was on parade for 71 minutes.

Still in Italy, Eddy Onazi started and played for 84 minutes in Lazio’s 4-2 loss to Fiorentina in the capital, while Carpi striker Jerry Mbakogu was on the bench for his team’s 2-1 away win at Udinese.

In Spain, Ikechukwu Uche made Malaga’s 18-man squad in their final game of the season against Las Palmas , but wasn’t given a run-out. The Tigres loanee managed three appearances for Los Boquerones this term.

In the Eredivisie Europa League playoffs, Holland youth international Kingsley Ehizibue subbed in after 68 minutes as PEC Zwolle were humiliated 5-2 at the Stadion Galgenwaard by FC Utrecht.

Elsewhere, Super Eagles rising star Moses Simon played the last 13 minutes of Gent’s 4-2 loss at Zulte-Waregem .Teammate Peter Olayinka wasn’t involved for the 2015 champs.

Italy international Stefano Okaka fired blanks in Anderlecht’s 4-0 loss away to Club Brugge. While he was involved for 75 minutes and picked up a booking on 39 minutes, Dream Team VI star Imoh Ezekiel was an unused sub.

Elsewhere, in the Scottish Premiership, Efe Ambrose assisted the Celtic goalkeeper to post a shutout in the champions 7-0 rout of Motherwell . The defender lasted the distance .

Vitesse loanee Abiola Dauda was shown a red card in the 57th minute for a terrible challenge as Hearts were held to a 2-2 draw by St.Johnstone..

Left-back Juwon Oshaniwa had earlier been booked in the first half in the 28th minute and had to be substituted seven minutes out of intermission.

In the Danish Superliga, Super Eagle Izunna Uzochukwu was on the pitch for 60 minutes as OB Odense lost 1-0 to Hobro at TREFOR Park.

John Owoeri was an unused sub in BK Hacken’s 4-1 rout of Hakeem Araba’s Falkenbergs FF in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Araba played the full ninety minutes at Falkenbergs IP and picked up a caution in the 73rd minute

Oestersunds FK defeated IFK Gothenburg 2-0. Monday Samuel, who trained with the Nigeria U23s in December 2014, was in action for 60 minutes, while his teammates Alhaji Gero and Michael Omoh were benched.

In the Austrian Bundesliga, Olarenwaju Kayode put Austria Vienna 2-0 up in the 90th minute in his team’s 3-0 rout of Bright Edomwonyi’s Sturm Graz. The ex-Flying Eagles striker was shown a yellow card in the closing minutes then subbed out while Bright played the full game.

Over to the Turkish Super Lig, Raheem Lawal started and played for 90 minutes as Osmanlispor FK lost 3-1 at Besiktas. The midfielder was cautioned in the 89th minute. Umar Aminu was not involved for the visitors.

Super Eagles central defender Kenneth Omeruo has put his injury worries behind him, having lasted the distance in Kasimpasa’s 7-0 hammering of Mersin.

In the Russian top division, Henty Ezekiel was in action for 87 minutes as Lokomotiv Moscow shared the spoils with Zenit St Petersburg (1-1). The former AC Milan starlet was booked in the 50th minute.

Tunde Adeniji came on in the 78th minute in Levski Sofia’s 1-0 win at Pirin Blagoevgrad in the Bulgarian topflight. He is yet to score since his transfer was completed.

Michael Odibe was suspended for Concordia Chiajna after his dismissal versus Botosani, but compatriot Christian Obodo worked a ninety-minute shift in the team’s hard fought 3-2 victory against CSMS Iasi.

Igho Kingsley