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•Boniface, Tella win first title as Nigerian stars begin 2024/25 season
As the top leagues abroad began during the weekend, Nigerian stars are wasting no time in the 2024/25 season as some are already winning trophies while some newcomers also announced their entry on the big stage, ABIODUN ADEWALE reports
Sunday
ENGLAND
Frank Owena (Brentford)
Just like last season, Super Eagles midfielder Onyeka is being eased into the 2024/25 Premier League season.
He was involved for just six minutes, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Cameroonian midfielder Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead in the first half after being set up by Yoane Wissa.
They were pegged back by an unfortunate own goal in the second half, but Wissa had the final say, scoring the winner in the 76th minute.
FRANCE
Akor Adams (Montpellier)
Adams remains the trusted point man for Montpellier, as they started their Ligue 1 campaign against Strasbourg at home on Sunday.
The striker scored eight league goals in 32 games, most of which came in the first half of the season.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
After overcoming a recent injury setback, Simon retained his spot in Nantes’ starting lineup in their season opener away to Toulouse.
Gift Orban (Lyon)
Despite featuring prominently in pre-season, Orban seem not to have cemented a place in Lyon’s first team for the new season. He was named on the bench during their game against Stade Rennes.
Orban admitted he had a difficult start to his Olympique Lyon career following his winter arrival at the Ligue 1 club.
After an outstanding season with Belgian club Gent, the Benue-born striker was signed by the seven-time Ligue 1 champions in January 2024 for a reported fee of €12m.
He managed just three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, but greater expectations were placed on the Nigerian following his arrival at the club.
ITALY
Fisay Dele-Bashiru (Lazio)
Lazio’s new No. 7, Dele-Bashiru slotted straight into the first team for his Serie A debut in their first game against Venezia.
Dele-Bashiru joined from Hatayspor on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy if he impresses.
The 23-year-old shone in the Turkish Super Lig last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists.
THE NETHERLANDS
Chuba Akpom (Ajax)
Akpom was handed a start in Ajax’s second league game of the season against NAC Breda, but he couldn’t make any impact on the game before being taken off in the 66th minute for Brian Brobbery.
The former champions lost the game 2-1. Ajax are on a redemption mission this season after struggling throughout last season.
The striker, however, managed 11 league goals and three assists in 25 matches.
SPAIN
Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad)
Still a subject of a potential summer exit, Umar was started on the bench as Real Sociedad began their 2024/25 La Liga campaign against Rayon Vallecano.
Following his return from a long injury layoff, which had hammered his performances since 2022, Umar managed only three goals and one assist in 26 league games.
Spanish publication AS confirmed that the club are ready to sell the striker, setting a €20m asking price.
Earlier in May, the striker requested to leave Sociedad following another turbulent season with the Basque club.
It’s been a difficult two-year spell for the Super Eagles striker since joining the club from Almeria during the 2022 summer for €20m.
BELGIUM
RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (Club Brugge)
Super Eagles midfielder Onyedika was involved for 83 minutes as defending Belgian champions Club Brugge got their first win of the season, beating Antwerp 1-0.
He was a kept figure in their triumph last season, scoring three crucial goals plus one assist.
SATURDAY
GERMANY
BONIFACE, TELLA (Bayer Leverkusen)
Super Eagles forwards Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella began the season with a trophy on Saturday, following Bayer Leverkusen’s penalty shootout win over Stuttgart in the German Super Cup.
Boniface opened his goal account for the season with the game’s first goal in the 11th minute, but his involvement was limited to the first half, having been substituted in the 40th minute for Jonathan Tah, no thanks to an unfortunate sending off of Martin Terrier.
Tella was an unused substitute in the game, where Stuttgart came from behind to lead 2-1 before Patrick Schick drew Xabi Alonso’s men level in stoppage time.
The encounter eventually dragged into penalties, with Bayer Leverkusen emerging 4-3 triumphant.
ENGLAND
JOE ARIBO (Southampton)
After a reviving season in the Championship, Aribo made a swift return to the Premier League with Southampton, fitting into their starting line-up in their 1-0 defeat to 10-man Newcastle United.
The Nigerian midfielder worked a great shift for 70 minutes before he was taken off.
AWONIYI, AINA (Nottingham Forest)
A new season and a new challenge for Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest began their 2024/25 campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth.
Aina started the game but was taken off in the 54th minute, while Awoniyi came on for goalscorer Chris Wood in the 72nd minute.
After an underwhelming campaign last term due to recurring injuries, Awoniyi will hope to stamp his name once again within the Forest fan base with goals.
ITALY
SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE (AC Milan)
Chukwueze had a fresh start to his Milan career during pre-season, and that earned him a place in the star-studded frontline of Paulo Fonesca’s team on Saturday night.
Despite the flashes of Chukwueze and his teammates, they had to fight from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Atalanta at San Siro.
The Nigerian winger was subbed off in the 60th minute for Theo Hernandez, with the scoreline still 2-0 in favour of their visitors.
New striker and second-half substitute Alvaro Morata pulled one back for Milan before another substitute, Noah Okafor, levelled matters in stoppage
time.
BELGIUM
AROKODARE, SOR (Genk)
Tolu Arokodare has started the new season like a house on fire, scoring a brace in their thrilling 4-3 away win over Beerschot on Saturday to take his tally to four goals this season.
He gave Genk a 2-1 lead, his first of the game, in the 29th minute.
The 23-year-old was set up by his compatriot Yira Sor for his second goal in the 63rd minute to make it 4-2 before the home side pulled one back in the 86th minute.
TOM DELE-BASHIRU (Watford)
Former Flying Eagles midfielder Dele-Bashiru put in a good shift for 90 minutes to help Watford to a 3-0 win over Stoke City at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
With two wins in as many games, Watford are on course for a return to the top flight next season.
SCOTLAND
DESSERS, BALOGUN (Rangers)
In Scotland, Cyriel Dessers got off the bench to inspire Rangers to a 2-0 win over St. Johnstone in the League Cup.
The Nigeria striker was given a rest after playing back-to-back games for the Gers, but he was brought on in the second half because they needed goals.
Dessers got to work immediately, as he scored 15 minutes after he was subbed in. The former Feyenoord man then provided the assist for Ross McCausland, who scored Rangers’ second in stoppage time.
The win sealed the Gers’ place in the quarterfinals of the competition.
TURKEY
OLAWOYIN, AKINTOLA (Rizespor)
Midfielder Ibrahim Olawoyin and forward David Akintola both kept their places in the starting line-up as Caykur Rizespor recorded their first win of the Turkey Super Lig season, beating Adana Demirapor 2-1 away from home.
Both players were taken off in stoppage time with just a little left to see off the win.
SERBIA
PETER OLAYINKA (Red Star Belgrade)
In the Serbian Super Liga, Peter Olayinka showed excellent form as he bagged a brace to propel Red Star Belgrade to a convincing 4-1 win at Cukaricki.
Olayinka headed home the first goal in the 15th minute and doubled the advantage shortly after with an excellent curled shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
The Super Eagles star’s brace set the visitors on the path to a victory that powered them to the top of the league table after five rounds of matches.
SPAIN
CHRISANTUS UCHE (Getafe)
Chrisantus Uche scored on his competitive debut for Getafe in their thrilling 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on the La Liga opening weekend.
Oihan Sancet’s brilliant strike handed Athletic Bilbao the lead in the 27th minute, but Uche rose highest to equalise for Getafe with a powerful header midway through the second half.
Twenty-one-year-old Uche, who was playing amateur football in his hometown of Owerri two years ago, only joined Getafe this summer from the Spanish third-tier side, Ceuta, for 500,000 euros.
