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Ilenikhena tops Super Eagles weekend ratings as Onuachu and Osimhen make injury headlines
George Ilenikhena’s two-goal display for Al-Ittihad against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr was the outstanding Nigerian performance of the first weekend in September, while Paul Onuachu and Victor Osimhen combined goalscoring form with injury concerns before Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
From Turkey and Saudi Arabia to the Netherlands, England and South Africa, several Super Eagles players made a significant impact for their clubs. Ilenikhena’s decisive contribution in a major Saudi Pro League derby earned him top spot, ahead of Onuachu and Tolu Arokodare.
Osimhen scored again for Galatasaray but was forced off after only 33 minutes against Istanbul Basaksehir. Onuachu scored twice for Trabzonspor before being substituted with an injury of his own, leaving Nigeria with potential concerns over the availability of two key forwards.
There were also notable contributions from defenders and midfielders. Chibuike Nwaiwu helped Trabzonspor win a penalty, Semi Ajayi played a central role in Hull City’s clean sheet against Aston Villa, Stanley Nwabali was involved in a goalless draw in South Africa and Alex Iwobi made Premier League history despite Fulham’s defeat.
10. Calvin Bassey, Fulham 6.0/10
Calvin Bassey completed the entire match for Fulham in their 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday. The Nigeria international started at centre-back and wore the captain’s armband.
He helped Fulham maintain control for periods, but the home side’s defensive problems became clear after the interval as Palace overturned the result. Tyrick Mitchell scored twice before Ben Chilwell completed the comeback in the 77th minute.
Bassey did not register a goal or assist and was part of a defence that conceded three times. His full-match contribution earns him a place in the list, although the result and Fulham’s second-half lapses limit his rating.
9. Stanley Nwabali, Chippa United 6.4/10
Stanley Nwabali was not required to produce a spectacular performance, but his clean sheet was important in Chippa United’s 0-0 draw with Milford FC in the South African Premiership.
The match featured chances at both ends and both goalkeepers made useful saves. Milford’s Lungile Nkosi reacted sharply to deny Azola Tshobeni early on, while Nwabali dealt with attempts from distance as the visitors looked to break the deadlock.
Chippa could not find a winning goal, but Nwabali helped ensure they avoided defeat.
8. Alex Iwobi, Fulham 6.6/10
Alex Iwobi’s appearance against Crystal Palace marked a significant milestone. The midfielder made his 100th Premier League appearance for Fulham, becoming the first African player and only the fifth player in Premier League history to reach 100 league appearances for three different clubs.
Iwobi had previously reached that landmark with Arsenal and Everton. He played 83 minutes in a difficult afternoon for Fulham, who twice led through Joshua King in the 11th minute and Cesar Palacios in the 42nd before losing 3-2.
He contributed to Fulham’s midfield work and took responsibility for set pieces, but did not produce a goal or assist. His historic appearance lifts his score, although his influence during the match was less significant than the attacking displays higher up the rankings.
7. Semi Ajayi, Hull City 6.8/10
Semi Ajayi helped Hull City hold Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw at the MKM Stadium after a disciplined defensive performance.
Villa enjoyed 74% possession and registered 13 shots, but only one was on target. Hull operated with a five-man defence and successfully frustrated Unai Emery’s side throughout the contest.
Ajayi was booked in the 39th minute but remained composed for the rest of the match. Villa also recorded the higher expected-goals figure, making Hull’s clean sheet a particularly valuable achievement.
It was an understated display, but Ajayi played a major part in preventing an established Premier League side from scoring over 90 minutes.
6. Chibuike Nwaiwu, Trabzonspor 7.1/10
Chibuike Nwaiwu played 82 minutes of Trabzonspor’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Genclerbirligi and made a telling contribution in attack as well as defence.
The centre-back won a penalty in the 12th minute after being brought down inside the area. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Mohamed Salah to convert in the 14th minute.
Nwaiwu also helped Trabzonspor preserve a clean sheet during a dominant home performance. He was booked in the 72nd minute and replaced by Samet Akaydin in the 83rd.
Although he did not score or provide an assist, winning the penalty that helped Trabzonspor establish a 2-0 lead gave him a decisive role in the match.
5. Samuel Chukwueze, AC Milan 7.4/10
Samuel Chukwueze made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute in AC Milan’s 1-1 draw with Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
The Nigeria winger entered in the 61st minute and created Milan’s goal seven minutes later. During a counter-attack, he collected possession and delivered a clever cross-field pass towards Alphadjo Cisse. The teenager controlled the ball, moved inside and finished into the bottom corner.
Chukwueze’s contribution was particularly important because Milan had struggled to create clear opportunities before his introduction. His assist put them ahead in a finely balanced match that was still goalless when he came on.
Federico Gatti’s equaliser in the 92nd minute denied Milan victory, but it did not diminish the Nigerian’s influence after his arrival.
4. Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray 7.5/10
Victor Osimhen needed only 16 minutes to put Galatasaray in front against Istanbul Basaksehir, scoring a superb long-range effort in their eventual 3-2 win.
His shot struck the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line, giving Galatasaray an early advantage. It was Osimhen’s sixth goal of the season, following a winning penalty against Goztepe and two goals against Corum in his previous matches.
However, the striker’s afternoon ended prematurely in the 33rd minute when he indicated that he could not continue. Barıs Alper Yılmaz replaced him, and Osimhen later underwent checks for a groin/adductor problem.
His goal ensured a high rating, but the limited playing time and injury concern prevented him from challenging for the top positions.
3. Tolu Arokodare, Ajax 7.7/10
Tolu Arokodare continued his excellent start at Ajax by scoring in their meeting with PSV Eindhoven at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Ajax fell behind after Ricardo Pepi scored in the fifth minute, but Arokodare restored parity 18 minutes later with a low finish. The goal was his fifth of the season and extended his scoring run to four consecutive matches.
He was substituted in the 61st minute, with Ajax eventually losing 3-1 after Lutsharel Geertruida and Esmir Bajraktarevic scored for PSV.
Arokodare did not get the result he wanted, but finding the net against one of the Netherlands’ strongest teams gave the performance added significance and strengthened his case for a return to the Super Eagles squad.
2. Paul Onuachu, Trabzonspor 8.4/10
Paul Onuachu produced the most explosive display among Nigeria’s established Super Eagles strikers, scoring twice in the opening 22 minutes of Trabzonspor’s 5-0 win against Genclerbirligi at Papara Park on Sunday.
He opened the scoring in the fifth minute, rising at the far post to meet Aral Simsir’s cross and directing a header into the top corner. Onuachu struck again 17 minutes later, finishing from inside the penalty area after Wagner Pina supplied the delivery.
The brace ended an eight-game scoring drought and opened his league account for the new season. That return was significant after he scored 22 league goals last season.
Onuachu’s afternoon was brought to an early end when he was substituted in the 43rd minute after suffering an injury. His setback, coming only a few days after Osimhen’s problem, could leave Nigeria facing a serious striker dilemma ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
1. George Ilenikhena, Al-Ittihad 9.2/10
George Ilenikhena was the clear standout after scoring twice in Al-Ittihad’s 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in Jeddah on Saturday.
The young striker opened the scoring after only four minutes. He reacted quickest when Steven Bergwijn’s cross hit the crossbar and finished from close range.
Ilenikhena doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute after Houssem Aouar supplied the ball. He completed the move with an acrobatic finish to put Al-Ittihad 2-0 ahead.
Angelo reduced the deficit in the 36th minute, but Al-Ittihad held on to end Al-Nassr’s unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season.
Ilenikhena was replaced in the 67th minute after completing his damage. His goals came against a side featuring Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix, adding to the importance of the performance.
He was also named Player of the Match after scoring twice from four shots, with two of those efforts on target. The combination of his direct influence, the quality of the opposition and the importance of the derby makes Ilenikhena the highest-rated Nigerian player of the weekend.
