Nigerian Exports : Igiebor Nets Brace; Onuachu Strikes;Taiwo, Oduamadi, John Start; Mbong, Effiong Lose ; Etuhu Absent; Alfa Benched

Catch up on the performances of players of Nigerian descent in the UEFA Europa League First qualifying round, Game 1 on Thursday.

Ex-Golden Eaglets star Abdullahi Alfa remained on the bench in Ventspils’ 2-0 win at home against  Vikingur.

Taye Taiwo and Nnamdi Oduamadi both started at the Central stadium of Klaipėda as HJK Helsinki defeated Atlantas Klaipeda. The AC Milan loanee subbed out in the 88th minute. Teammate Vincent Onovo is injured and was not involved.

Malta international  Alfred Effiong worked a ninety-minute shift in attack for Maltese club Balzan in their 2-0 loss to FK Neftchi.

Super Eagles midfielder Dickson Etuhu is few weeks away from full recovery and was missing from the AIK lineup that beat Bala Town 2-0 at the Friends Arena.

Paul Onuachu played the entirety of FC Midtjylland’s 1-0 win against Suduva and scored the game-winner nine minutes out of intermission.

In a Nordic affair, Chukwuma Akabueze lasted the distance as Odd Grenland (Norway) beat IFK Mariehamn (Finland) 2-0 at Skagerak Arena.

Nosa Igiebor opened scoring in the 13th minute before grabbing his second in the 69th minute as Maccabi Tel Aviv thrashed Bede Amarachi Osuji’s Gorica 3-0.

The Nigeria international was in action for ninety minutes, whereas Osuji subbed out 20 minutes before the end of the contest.

Joseph Mbong and Hibernians have a mountain to climb in their bid to qualify for the next round after losing 3-0 to  Spartak Trnava . The Malta youth international was introduced in the 88th minute.