Despite the major European leagues taking a break, several other championships are still in full swing. Nigerian stars have been making their mark in these leagues, delivering impressive performances. Here are some highlights of their recent achievements.
In the Belarusian top division, Fanen Akyam opened the scoring for Belshina at the Stadyen Dynama. However, the home team Dinamo Minsk fought back and secured a resounding 7-2 victory.
Moving to Finland, Balogun Adebowale had a remarkable day for OTP in their 3-1 league win against TP-47 in the Kakkonen. Adebowale scored the third goal for the visitors in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he was shown a red card for his second booking just two minutes later.
Another standout performer in the Kakkonen was Jasper Chibueze Uwaegbulam, who hails from Owerri. Uwaegbulam was the match-winner for JBK, scoring both of his side’s goals in their impressive 2-0 away victory over KRAFT.
In the Veikkausliiga, Peter Michael scored his second goal of the season, contributing to VPS’s commanding 3-0 win at home against Inter Turku.
In the Ykkönen, 20-year-old Adeleke Oluwatobi Babatunde scored the equalizer for MP in their come-from-behind 4-2 victory away against KPV. Santeri Stenius also played a crucial role, netting a hat trick to secure the win for the visitors.
Turning our attention to Sweden, Chidi Omeje scored twice for IFK Östersund. However, his efforts weren’t enough to prevent his team from crashing out of the First Round of the Svenska Cupen, losing 5-3 to Lucksta after extra time. Sani Tahir, another Nigerian player, scored the fifth goal for the victorious Lucksta.
In Belgium, Gift Orban, Nigeria’s most valuable U-23 star, featured in KAA Gent’s first preseason match of the summer. Orban played the opening half and found the net in the 37th minute as Gent took a three-nil lead over KFC Merelbeke into halftime.
Gent’s dominance continued in the second half, with Flying Eagles star Ahmed Abdullahi also getting on the scoresheet. The four-time Belgian Cup winners secured a resounding 9-1 victory away from home.
While the major European leagues may be on break, Nigerian players continue to shine in other championships. Their impressive performances showcase the talent and potential of Nigerian footballers on the international stage.
