DOUBLE IMPACT! Ejuke, Adams, Salim Fago on target as AFCON-bound Eagles shine

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In their final outings before departing to join the Super Eagles’ AFCON camp, Nigerian players delivered impressive performances for their respective clubs across Europe, with new invitee Lawal Salim Fago sharing the spotlight with other established internationals. ABIODUN ADEWALE reports

SPAIN

ADAMS, EJUKE (SEVILLA)

Super Eagles duo Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke were on the scoresheet as Sevilla snapped a run of three successive LaLiga defeats with a commanding 4–0 victory over Real Oviedo at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

Adams opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute, slotting past Aarón Escandell for his third goal of the season. The striker later turned provider, setting up Djibril Sow to find the bottom corner midway through the first half as Sevilla doubled their advantage.

Ejuke, introduced in the 77th minute, put the icing on the cake just before stoppage time with a brilliant solo effort. It was the winger’s first goal of the season. Both players are expected to report to the Super Eagles’ AFCON camp in Egypt.

CROATIA

LAWAL SALIM FAGO (ISTRA 1961)

New Super Eagles invitee Lawal Salim Fago continued to justify his inclusion in Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad, scoring his fifth goal of the season for Istra 1961. The forward struck five minutes into the match, which was later abandoned at 1–1.

Fago has now scored in back-to-back games since being named in Nigeria’s final AFCON squad, underlining his fine form ahead of the tournament.

ITALY

GIFT ORBAN (HELLAS VERONA)

Gift Orban came off the bench to score twice as Hellas Verona secured back-to-back Serie A wins with a 2–1 victory over fellow relegation candidates Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.

Verona were forced into an early change in the 35th minute when Giovane was withdrawn for Orban. The Nigerian forward made an almost immediate impact, breaking the deadlock three minutes before halftime with a composed finish from the edge of the box after a swift counterattack. Although Fiorentina equalised, Orban struck again at the death, calmly finishing from inside the area for his fourth goal of the season.

MADUKA OKOYE (UDINESE)

Focusing on club football as Nigeria head to the AFCON in Morocco, Maduka Okoye kept his third clean sheet of the season as Udinese edged Napoli 1–0 to prevent them from going top of the table. The goalkeeper faced just one shot during the match and dealt with it comfortably.

ENGLAND

AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

Although Ola Aina featured for Nottingham Forest’s U-21 side last week, he is yet to return to first-team action, while Taiwo Awoniyi also remains sidelined. Both players were omitted from Nigeria’s final AFCON squad.

CHRISANTUS UCHE (CRYSTAL PALACE)

Despite registering a goal and an assist in the Europa Conference League last Thursday, Chrisantus Uche was named on the bench by Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace hosted Manchester City at Selhurst Park. The Nigerian midfielder came on in the second half for his sixth Premier League appearance, as Palace suffered a 3–0 home defeat.

FRANK ONYEKA (BRENTFORD)

Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka started from the bench in Brentford’s home clash against Leeds United on Sunday. The 27-year-old is billed to link up with the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 camp in Egypt.

CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE (BRIGHTON WOMEN)

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was not listed for Brighton Women in their 3–0 home defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. The reason for her omission was not stated, and she was not named among the injured players. She has kept three clean sheets in 10 Women’s Super League matches this season.

ROFIAT IMURAN (LONDON CITY LIONESSES)

Super Falcons left-back Rofiat Imuran played 62 minutes, making her ninth WSL appearance of the season as London City Lionesses lost 1–0 away to Leicester.

GERMANY

VICTOR BONIFACE (WERDER BREMEN)

Omitted from the Super Eagles’ final 28-man AFCON squad, Victor Boniface was also absent for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Sunday due to a knee injury. The forward, who is on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, is yet to fully settle at the club.

BELGIUM

RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)

AFCON-bound midfielder Raphael Onyedika played 79 minutes as Club Brugge recorded an emphatic 5–1 away win against Dender. He has been a regular this season, scoring one league goal in 14 appearances.

GREECE

BRUNO ONYEMAECHI (OLYMPIACOS)

After missing Olympiacos’ last two league games and a Champions League fixture, Bruno Onyemaechi returned to the starting line-up during their away match against Aris. It was his sixth league appearance of the season.

CYRIEL DESSERS (PANATHINAIKOS)

Cyriel Dessers returned to the starting line-up for the first time in 17 matches as Panathinaikos, following a prolonged injury spell. The AFCON-bound striker joined the club in the summer from Rangers and has made four league appearances so far, scoring once.

SCOTLAND

KELECHI IHEANACHO (CELTIC)

Kelechi Iheanacho featured for the second consecutive game since recovering from injury, playing 35 minutes in Celtic’s 3–1 defeat at St. Mirren. The striker, who joined on a free transfer from Sevilla, had scored twice in four matches before being sidelined.

TURKEY

WILFRED NDIDI (BEŞIKTAŞ)

Beşiktaş vice-captain Wilfred Ndidi played the full 90 minutes as his side earned a 3–3 draw away at Trabzonspor, before departing to join the Super Eagles camp.

ANTHONY DENNIS (GÖZTEPE)

Fresh from scoring against Trabzonspor last week, Anthony Dennis completed the full match as Göztepe bounced back with a 1–0 away win over Gaziantep. The 21-year-old midfielder has now scored three goals this season.

Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years

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