Nigerian Stars Shine Across European Leagues in Weekend Fixtures

Nigerian footballers displayed their prowess on the European stage over the weekend, with Gbolahan Salami and Reuben Gabriel delivering standout performances for KuPS in the Finnish top flight. Salami’s 76th-minute strike brought KuPS level at 2-2 before Gabriel sealed a 3-2 victory with his decisive goal in the 84th minute. Salami’s goal marked his seventh in 20 league appearances, while Gabriel’s contribution took his tally to five goals in 26 league games.

In the Belgian top division, Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu, and Anderson Esiti featured for Gent in a closely contested match against Zulte-Waregem, with the visitors securing a 1-0 victory. Nigerian striker Peter Olayinka played a pivotal role in Zulte-Waregem’s triumph.

Former Akwa United forward, Ibrahim Alhassan, made his second appearance for Austria Wien in the Austrian Bundesliga, contributing to a hard-fought 0-0 away draw against Salzburg. Alhassan’s presence was felt for the full 90 minutes in a resilient performance.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s loanee, Kelechi Nwakali, made a significant impact as a 75th-minute substitute for VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie, contributing to a 1-1 draw against PEC Zwolle. German-born Nigerian midfielder Kingsley Ehizibue was instrumental in Zwolle’s performance, netting the opening goal in the 30th minute.

In the Turkish Super League, Super Eagles defender Elderson Echiejile showcased his skills for Sivasspor, despite a narrow 3-2 loss at home to Goztepe. Echiejile, currently on loan from French Ligue 1 champions AS Monaco, displayed a commendable 90-minute performance.

The weekend’s fixtures have once again highlighted the significant contributions of Nigerian players across various European leagues, underscoring their impact on the global football stage.