Soccer
Soccernet.ng monitored 44 games that could potentially involve Nigerians abroad on Saturday, January 4, 2025, and here are the major highlights.
Nigerians abroad – Turkey
Emeka Eze smashed home his ninth goal of the season to lift Pendikspor to a fine 2-0 away victory at Fatih Karagümrük in the Turkish 1 Lig.
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Eze won a penalty for Pendikspor and converted the spot-kick expertly to hand the visitors the lead in the 17th minute of the encounter.
The 28-year-old attacker then played a key role in the build-up to his side’s second goal by Venezuelan star Yonathan del Valle four minutes before halftime.
Elsewhere in the division, Paul Mukairu delivered a man-of-the-match display to power Boluspor to a thrilling 4-2 away win over Yeni Malatyaspor.
The former Reading forward scored his side’s third goal and assisted the fourth as Boluspor secured their seventh win of the campaign.
In the Super Lig, Victor Osimhen scored Galatasaray’s first goal of the new year to help the champions carve out a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Goztepe at the RAMS Park in İstanbul.
Osimhen scored from the penalty spot in the 10th minute of the clash, sending Polish goalkeeper Mateusz Lis the wrong way for his 10th goal in 12 league appearances.
However, Goztepe struck back just before the half-hour mark with help from their Nigerian import, Anthony Dennis.
Dennis, 20, assisted Goztepe’s equaliser when his clever forward pass found Brazil’s Rômulo, who made no mistake from close range.
However, Turkish star Yunus Akgün continued his excellent form as he netted the winner in the 61st minute with his fifth goal in as many games.
Nigerians abroad: England
Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo featured for Southampton in their crushing 5-0 defeat to Brentford at St Mary’s.
Former Super Eagles target Kevin Schade was among the goals for Brentford.
Southampton’s relegation fate is all but sealed as the Saints are rooted to the base of the Premier League with only six points, eight fewer than 19th-place Leicester City.
In League One, Kelechi Nwakali delivered an accomplished performance in midfield to guide Barnsley to a commanding 3-0 win over visiting Crawley Town.
Nigerians abroad: Portugal
Bruno Onyemaechi and Boavista endured a sour start to the year 2025 as they crumbled to a disappointing 3-1 loss at home to Arouca in the Primeira Liga.
Boavista were the architect of their own downfall as Sebastián Pérez was sent off in the first half before the team conceded two avoidable goals in second-half stoppage time.
Super Eagles defender Onyemaechi, who was named Boavista’s Player of the Month of December, conceded a 95th-minute penalty that made it 2-1 for the visitors while Augusto Dabó scored an own goal moments later.
Boavista, with only two wins in 17 games, will end the weekend at the bottom of the log regardless of the results from other games on Sunday.
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