Super Eagles Euro Round-Up: Iheanacho Ends Six-Month Drought; Onuachu, Onyeka Shine
Nigerian football stars were in action across Europe over the weekend, delivering goals, assists, and standout performances for their respective clubs as the 2025/26 season gathers momentum. Kelechi Iheanacho, Paul Onuachu, and Frank Onyeka grabbed the headlines with crucial contributions, while several other Super Eagles players made key impacts in leagues across England, Spain, Germany, and beyond.
Turkey: Onuachu and Nwaiwu Lead Trabzonspor to Victory
In a thrilling Turkish Super Lig clash, Paul Onuachu, Chibuike Nwaiwu, and Anthony Nwakaeme all registered goal contributions as Trabzonspor defeated Galatasaray 3-1. Onuachu opened the scoring in the third minute with a powerful header from a Wagner Pina cross, while Nwaiwu restored the lead in the 62nd minute by nodding in Nwakaeme's well-taken free-kick. This victory extended Trabzonspor's winning run to seven matches, closing the gap to just one point behind league leaders Galatasaray, who were without the injured Victor Osimhen. Onuachu now has 22 league goals this season, maintaining his position as the top scorer, and Nwaiwu has three goals following his recent Super Eagles debut.
England: Onyeka and Ajayi Make Their Mark
Frank Onyeka opened his goal account for Coventry City with a superb strike in their 3-2 win over Derby County. Set up by Romain Esse, Onyeka fired home in the 12th minute and delivered a commanding midfield display as Coventry continued their push for automatic promotion. Meanwhile, Semi Ajayi marked his return from injury with an assist in Hull City's 1-1 draw against Oxford United. The defender, who had been a doubt after picking up a knock on international duty, delivered a long pass that led to Hull's early opener, finished by Mohamed Belloumi.
Scotland: Iheanacho Ends Goal Drought
Kelechi Iheanacho ended a six-month goal drought by scoring the winner in Celtic's 2-1 victory over Dundee FC. Introduced in the 58th minute, Iheanacho struck in the 82nd minute, calmly finishing from Marcelo Saracchi's delivery to boost Celtic's title charge. This crucial goal highlighted his resilience and importance to the team.
Other Notable Performances
- Austria: Moses Usor delivered an outstanding performance, scoring once and providing an assist in LASK Linz's 4-1 win over Austria Vienna.
- Germany: Nathan Tella impressed as Bayer Leverkusen came from two goals down to beat Wolfsburg 6-3, winning a penalty that led to the equaliser.
- Spain: Umar Sadiq provided an assist in Valencia's 3-2 loss to Celta Vigo, while Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke featured in Sevilla's 1-0 defeat to Real Oviedo.
- Portugal: Terem Moffi provided an assist in FC Porto's 2-2 draw with Famalicao, and Zaidu Sanusi was booked before being substituted.
- Turkey: Wilfred Ndidi was booked as Besiktas suffered a 1-0 defeat to rivals Fenerbahce, impacting their UEFA Europa League qualification hopes.
- England: Josh Maja converted a penalty in West Brom's 2-2 draw with Wrexham for his third league goal of the season.
These performances underscore the depth and talent of Nigerian players in European football, with many making significant contributions to their clubs' campaigns this season.
