Super Eagles Euro Round-Up: Iheanacho's Double Sends Celtic to Scottish Cup Final
Nigerian football stars made headlines across Europe over the weekend, delivering a mix of triumphs and tribulations as the 2025/26 season intensifies. Kelechi Iheanacho led the charge with a stunning performance, while others faced injuries, defeats, and disciplinary issues.
Scotland: Iheanacho's Heroics for Celtic
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as the standout performer, scoring two crucial goals to secure Celtic's place in the Scottish Cup final. In a semi-final clash against St. Mirren, Celtic dominated with a 6-2 victory. Iheanacho, introduced as a substitute, made an immediate impact by netting a brace in extra time during the 96th and 101st minutes. This remarkable contribution brings his season tally to six goals, highlighting his vital role in Celtic's cup campaign.
England: Injuries and Key Contributions
In the Premier League, Alex Iwobi of Fulham suffered a suspected hamstring injury during a 0-0 draw with Brentford, potentially sidelining him for the remainder of the season. His compatriot, Samuel Chukwueze, replaced him in the match. Meanwhile, Calvin Bassey played the full duration for Fulham. Elsewhere, Ola Aina featured for Nottingham Forest in a 4-1 win over Burnley, while Taiwo Awoniyi remained an unused substitute. Josh Maja scored an early goal to help West Bromwich Albion secure a 2-0 victory in the Championship.
Spain: Lookman's Bittersweet Copa del Rey Final
Ademola Lookman scored for Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, but his effort was in vain as the team lost 4-3 on penalties to Real Sociedad after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time. Lookman's goal made him only the second Nigerian player to score in a Copa del Rey final, following Finidi George's achievement in 1997.
Italy: Mixed Fortunes for Nigerian Players
In Serie A, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye's clean sheet streak ended with Udinese's 1-0 loss to Parma, though he has recorded eight clean sheets this season. Gift Orban was involved in a heated altercation with a fan after Hellas Verona's 1-0 defeat to AC Milan, reflecting the team's fifth consecutive league loss.
Other European Leagues: Highlights and Lowlights
In Belgium, Raphael Onyedika was forced off injured during Club Brugge's 2-1 defeat. In Germany, Nathan Tella featured in Bayer Leverkusen's loss, while Philip Otele received a red card for Hamburger SV. Victor Boniface missed Werder Bremen's match due to injury. In Turkey, Paul Onuachu returned from injury but failed to score in Trabzonspor's draw. In Russia, Olakunle Olusegun scored but was sent off for Nizhny Novgorod. In the Czech Republic, Emmanuel Ayaosi and Lucky Ezeh combined for a goal in Karvina's win.
This weekend underscored the diverse experiences of Super Eagles players abroad, from Iheanacho's celebratory brace to the challenges faced by others across the continent.
