By ABIODUN ADEWALE and PEDRO PETER

As the foreign leagues continued to gather momentum, Nigerian players also continued their steady rise abroad, with Alex Iwobi stealing the spotlight in the EPL. ABIODUN ADEWALE and PEDRO PETER reports

IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)

Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey were both in action for Fulham in their Premier League match-day two clash against visiting Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Iwobi was instrumental for the Cottagers as he featured for all 90 minutes and contributed the assist for Emile Smith Rowe, who grabbed Fulham’s equaliser after the Red Devils had gone in front. Iwobi also fired three shots throughout the game, although he did not get a goal in the fixture.

Since the start of last season, the 28-year-old has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other Fulham player (16) – nine goals and seven assists.

Bassey also played the entire 90 minutes for Fulham, recording 32 passes and two fouls. However, he was guilty of gifting United a penalty after he was adjudged to have fouled in the box, but Bruno Fernandes blazed the resultant spot-kick wide.

Fulham have scored four goals against United in their last five meetings, with the Nigerian duo involved in all of them. Iwobi has a goal and an assist, while Bassey has two goals.

Aina, Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)

As expected, Ola Aina was in the starting line-up for Nottingham Forest’s away trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace. The Nigerian international played the entirety of the fixture, making 36 passes and two fouls as his team failed to keep a clean sheet. He also received a booking for all his efforts on the day. Ismaila Sarr has opened the scoring for Palace in the 37th minute, but Callum Hudson-Odoi levelled for the Tricky Trees in the 57th minute to salvage a point.

As for Awoniyi, he was not listed in manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s matchday squad for the fixture.

Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)

The Super Eagles hitman was not included in the matchday squad by manager Russell Martin for Glasgow Rangers in their away trip against St. Mirren in a Scottish Premier League fixture on Sunday.

The 30-year-old missed the encounter through injury, though his teammates could only manage to play out a 1-1 draw. The result is Rangers’ worst start to the top-flight since 1989, having failed to win their opening three league games.

Eighteen-year-old Findlay Curtis was the hero for the Gers, as he came on as a substitute and scored shortly after to salvage a point for Rangers, but Hamza Igamane stole the headlines after refusing to come on in the second half for Rangers.

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)

The lanky Onuachu started from the onset for Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor in their domestic fixture against visiting Antalyaspor on Sunday. The 31-year-old, who recently completed a move to the club from English Championship outfit Southampton, featured for 89 minutes and could only muster one shot as Trabzonspor ran out 1-0 winners.

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)

The 2023 CAF Africa Men’s Player of the Year winner was in the starting eleven for Okan Buruk’s side in their Turkish Super Lig fixture away against Kayserispor on Sunday.

The former Wolfsburg, Lille, and Napoli frontman played the entire duration of the 90 minutes and registered his first league goal of the campaign, as he turned home a cross from Italian winger Nicolo Zaniolo in the 86th minute. Osimhen also recorded a total of six shots throughout the encounter.

Henry Onyekuru (Genclerbirligi)

The erstwhile Super Eagles winger was not listed in the Genclerbirligi squad that took on Gaziantep in an away Turkish top-flight fixture on Saturday. It was not a happy outing for Onyekuru’s teammates, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat whilst finishing the game with ten men after midfielder Michal Nalepa received a 93rd-minute dismissal.

Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto)

The Nigerian full-back made a rare appearance for the two-time UEFA Champions League winners in their domestic top-flight fixture against visiting Casa Pia at the Estadio do Dragao on Sunday.

Sanusi, who has been linked with an exit away from the club throughout the summer transfer window, was on the starting line-up and featured for the first 45 minutes as Porto ran out comfortable 4-0 winners on the day, with Borja Sainz netting a brace while goalkeeper Diogo Costa made his 200th appearance for the club.

Throughout his time on the pitch, Sanusi made 30 passes but did not register any goal contribution.

The game against Casa Pia was Sanusi’s third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga this season, following previous appearances against Vitoria Guimaraes in their league opener at home on August 11, and against Gil Vicente in an away fixture on August 18, where he registered an assist.

Kenneth Omeruo (CFR Cluj)

The former AFCON winner was missing from manager Dan Petrescu’s squad list in their Romanian top-flight division clash away at Oletul Galati. The outcome was unsavoury for Omeruo’s teammates, who were soundly beaten 4-1 and they also ended the game with ten players after Brazilian defender Leo Bolgado was sent off in the 50th minute.

Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes)

The Nigerian defender started for Nantes in their Ligue 1 clash away at Strasbourg on Sunday. The 28-year-old featured for the entirety of the encounter, making 82 passes and two fouls. He also received a booking in the 22nd minute of the clash.

In the end, it was Strasbourg who continued their 100 per cent start to the 2025/26 campaign after a late strike from Emanuel Emegha sealed a 1-0 victory over Nantes, who have now failed to win their first away league game in each of the last nine seasons.(PUNCH)