Nigerians abroad: Beniangba bags brace; Osimhen caged; Adams outlasts Moffi in France; Otele strikes again

Soccernet.ng monitored dozens of matches that could potentially involve Nigerian players on Friday, March 8th.

Here are the most eye-catching highlights:

Italy

Victor Osimhen featured for Napoli as the Serie A champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Torino inside the Diego Maradona Stadium.

Osimhen scored five goals in his first three games of 2024 with Napoli, but the Super Eagles striker has now failed to find his range in his last two games against Juventus and Torino.

It would be recalled that he had his penalty kick saved by the Juventus goalkeeper in that encounter.

Belgium

In the Challenger Pro League, KRC Genk II battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw with Patro Eisden.

Victory Beniangba was the outstanding star for Genk as the youngster netted his side’s two goals in the second half, and it would have been enough to secure the win but for Patro Eisden’s late equaliser.

Christian Akpan, 19, also impressed for Genk, but Beniangba remains the club’s top scorer with 11 league goals in 23 games.

France

OGC Nice had Terem Moffi on the pitch from start to finish, while Montpellier had Akor Adams on in the second half for their Ligur 1 clash at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.

None of the Nigerian forwards found the net, but Montpellier had the last laugh, claiming a fine 2-1 victory.

Hungary

Peter Ambrose was among the goals as Újpest soared to a convincing 2-0 victory against Puskás in their NB I encounter.

It is Ambrose’s 8th goal in 22 league games for Újpest, a far better haul than the one goal in 14 matches he managed last season.

Latvia

The 2024 Virsliga season kicked off this weekend, and Abiodun Ogunniyi got the consolation goal for Auda in their 2-1 home defeat to Rigas FS.

The 22-year-old midfielder equalised for the home side on the hour mark to cancel out Darko Lemajič’s opener for Riga FS.

However, Ogunniyi was substituted in the 84th minute, only for the visitors to smash home the winning goal in stoppage time.

Romania

Philip Otele made it four goals in his last four games as he fired home a stoppage-time winner to help CFR Cluj claim a 1 – 0 triumph over visiting Hermannstadt.

Otele has been a terror for defenders in the Romanian top flight, with the former Kauno Zalgiris star boasting 13 goals in 30 games.

Only FCSB’s duo of Florinel Coman and Darius Olaru, with 14 goals apiece, have scored more in the entire division.

Serbia

In the Super Liga, Adetunji Adeshina made the difference for Novi Pazar as he broke the deadlock in the 77th minute to power his side to an excellent 1-0 away win at Spartak Subotica.

It is Adeshina’s first goal in 2024 and his fourth this season, following the teenage midfielder’s breakthrough at Novi Pazar last season.

Turkey

League leaders Galatasaray made light work of Rizespor as they strolled to a thrilling 6-2 victory inside the RAMS Park in İstanbul.

David Akintola impressed, while Ibrahim Olawoyin scored one of Rizespor’s consolation goals, but it was not enough to trouble their hosts.