Soccer
Soccernet.ng monitored several matches that featured Nigerian players on Tuesday, January 8, 2025, and here are the major highlights.
Super Eagles stars Chiamaka Nnadozie and Ifeoma Onumonu were in action for Paris FC and Montpellier respectively as the French Première Ligue kicked off its first round of matches in 2025.
Reigning African Goalkeeper of the Year, Nnadozie, kept her first clean sheet of the year as Paris FC secured a convincing 2-0 victory away to Le Havre.
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Goals in each half from Gaëtane Thiney and Mathilde Bourdieu ensured Paris FC started the year with a win, moving them into third place, just two points behind second-place PSG.
It was the same victory song for Ifeoma Onumonu and Montpellier, who claimed a fine 2-1 comeback win away to Strasbourg.
The two teams played out a goalless first half at Colmar Stadium before the home side took the lead just two minutes into the second period through Lorena Azzaro.
Montpellier waited until the 82nd minute before they found the equalizer they deserved, with Océane Deslandes converting from the penalty spot after a foul on Sonia Ouchene.
And deep into stoppage time, the visitors snatched all three points when Jade Rastocle set up Léa Khelifi to score the winning goal.
In Belgium, it was a difficult day for Promise David as his Union Saint-Gilloise side suffered a 5-1 defeat to Antwerp at Bosuilstadion in Deurne.
The heavy loss saw Union Saint-Gilloise knocked out of the Belgian Cup, with Antwerp advancing to the semifinals, joining Tolu Arokodare‘s KRC Genk and Raphael Onyedika‘s Club Brugge.
Sam Edozie‘s Anderlecht will face Beerschot on Thursday for the final semifinal spot.
In Turkey, Anthony Nwakaeme came off the bench to help Trabzonspor secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Alanyaspor in their first group match of the Turkish Cup.
The match was goalless at halftime, with Trabzonspor struggling to break down Alanyaspor’s defence.
However, Nwakaeme was introduced at the start of the second half, and the floodgates opened in the 51st minute when Edin Višća scored the opener.
Simon Banza doubled Trabzonspor’s advantage seven minutes later, before Nwakaeme added the third in the 69th minute.
It was Nwakaeme’s first goal of the year and his second since returning to Trabzonspor in the summer after his Saudi Arabian stint with Al Fayha.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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