Flying Start for Nigerians in European Leagues

*Maduka Okoye Beaten Four Times in Opening Game

Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, conceded four times as Sparta Rotterdam lost 4-0 to FC Utrecht in their Dutch Eredivisie opening weekend.

As expected, Okoye started in goal but against his hope of celebrating his new deal with a clean slate, he was forced to pick the ball from his own net four times.

The rout started as early as the second minute of play. The scoreline stayed like that until six minutes after the hour mark when Utrecht went on rampage, scoring two goals in 10 minutes before adding the fourth in the added time.

Last season, Okoye was in contention for the goalkeeper of the year and even upstaged Francis Uzoho who was just returning from a long lay off due to injury.

Okoye’s record of 10 clean sheets made Ajax to show interest in the Nigerian goalkeeper.

*Taiwo Awoniyi Excited by Goal in Hertha Berlin First Draw

Former Nigerian Under-17 World Cup winner, Taiwo Awoniyi scored in

Hertha Berlin’s Bundesliga opening weekend 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

Awoniyi put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute on Saturday before Leverkusen’s

Moussa Diaby equalised five minutes later to share points.

Max Kruse fed Awoniyi, who drove goal wards and smashed an unstoppable 18-yard strike over the despairing dive of Lukas Hradecky.

“For me, I think it is what I have waited for, for many years,” Awoniyi told Bundesliga’s official website.

“I am really happy I can achieve it this year and I am back again in Berlin.”

The 24-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Hertha Berlin joined the club on a permanent deal from Premier League side Liverpool this summer.

*Moses Simon’s Assists Fire Nantes to Victory

Moses Simon provided both assists as Nantes beat Metz 2-0, to claim their first win of the new French Ligue 1 season on Sunday. Simon has now taken his assists for the new campaign to three.

The Nigerian star winger set up Randal Kolo Muani for the opening goal 12 minutes into the game. And just four minutes into the second half Simon laid the ball for Ludovic Blas to make it 2-0.

Last season, Simon scored six goals in 33 league appearances for Nantes.

The win moves Nantes to fifth position on four points in the league table after two league games played.

*Frank Onyeka’s Shines in Brentford Debut

Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis on Saturday became the fourth Nigerian player to score on his debut in the English Premier League.

Dennis joined the exclusive list of the likes of John Utaka, Osaze Peter Odemwingie and Odion Ighalo as Nigerian players who scored on their first outing in the English Premier League.

The 23-year-old former Belgian Club Brugge striker opened his Premier League account, scoring Watford’s first goal of the new 2021/22 season in the 3-2 defeat of Aston Villa.

Dennis who was in good company, having his Super Eagles team mates, William Troost-Ekong and Oghenekaro Etebo in the Hornets starting line up at the Vicarage Road clash, got on the scorers sheet in the 10th minute when he slotted home after his initial shot was blocked.

Ahmed Musa Scores in Debut for Turkish Karagumruk

Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, was also on the scorer’s sheet as he scored in his Turkish Super Lig club Fatih Karagumruk’s 3-2 win against Gazientep at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Musa, 28, netted Fatih Karagumruk’s third goal and took to Twitter to celebrate his goal on his maiden appearance for the Turkish Super Lig club. The Nigeria captain started the game and featured for all 90 minutes.

“A good start, we keep going mates,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.

The versatile winger linked up with the modest side last month penning a two-year deal with the option of an additional year.