Onuachu, Simon net for first time in 2025
Nigerian players made significant impacts across Europe’s top leagues on the weekend, with Cyriel Dessers leading the headlines after a memorable hat-trick in Scotland. Meanwhile, Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon both found their scoring boots for the first time in 2025, writes PETER AKINBO.
SUNDAY
SCOTLAND
CYRIEL DESSERS (RANGERS)
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers powered his team into the Scottish Cup last 16 with a magnificent hat-trick in their commanding 5-0 victory over Highland League side Fraserburgh at Ibrox. The Nigerian international showed his predatory instincts throughout the match, first nodding home from James Tavernier’s corner after 27 minutes despite earlier missing a clear chance. He added his second with a close-range finish after clever build-up play, before completing his treble with a sublime late strike. The hat-trick marks Dessers’ first for Rangers since joining the club and takes his tally to nine goals across all competitions this season.
ENGLAND
AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)
Super Eagles defender Ola Aina continued his impressive form with another stellar performance as Nottingham Forest survived a late scare to secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Southampton. The versatile full-back was instrumental in Forest’s third goal, providing a perfect cross for Chris Wood to head home, and made a vital goal-line clearance in stoppage time to deny Jan Bednarek an equalizer.
His compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi came off the bench in the 83rd minute, replacing Wood as Forest held on for their seventh win in eight matches to maintain their unlikely title push.
ONUACHU, ARIBO (SOUTHAMPTON)
Paul Onuachu finally ended his eight-month goal drought with a powerful header from Mateus Fernandes’ corner in the dying minutes. The striker’s last goal came in May 2024 during Besiktas’ Turkish Cup final defeat to Trabzonspor.
Despite Joe Aribo’s energetic midfield display, their late rally wasn’t enough to prevent Southampton from suffering their third consecutive league defeat.
FRANCE
MOSES SIMON (NANTES)
Simon marked his return to scoring form with a brilliant solo effort in Nantes’ 1-1 draw at Saint-Étienne. The Nigerian winger opened the scoring after just 15 minutes, cutting inside from the left before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed strike into the top corner. It was Simon’s first goal of 2025 and his fifth of the season, though Austine Boakye’s late equalizer denied Les Canaries their first away win in eight attempts. Simon’s last goal came on December 8, 2024, in a home fixture against Stade Rennais.
THE NETHERLANDS
CHUBA AKPOM (AJAX)
Super Eagles striker Akpom helped Ajax close the gap on league leaders PSV to just one point with a crucial goal in their 2-0 victory at Heerenveen. Coming off the bench in the second half, Akpom sealed the win with a well-taken header in the 82nd minute after Josip Sutalo had given the Amsterdam giants an early lead. The victory was particularly significant as Ajax were the only team in the top six to win this weekend, strengthening their position in second place with a five-point cushion over third-placed FC Utrecht.
SATURDAY
ENGLAND
ALEX IWOBI, CALVIN BASSEY (FULHAM)
The Nigerian duo played integral roles as Fulham secured an impressive 2-0 away victory at struggling Leicester City. Iwobi was particularly influential, hitting the crossbar early in the game and nearly scoring again minutes after Smith Rowe’s opener, only to be denied by a last-ditch Wout Faes block. Bassey put in another solid defensive shift, helping the Cottagers keep their third clean sheet in four matches. The win lifts Fulham to 11th in the Premier League table.
ITALY
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATALANTA)
Despite scoring a stunning solo goal, Lookman couldn’t prevent Atalanta from falling to a 3-2 defeat against Napoli at the Gewiss Stadium. The Nigerian international showed his class in the 55th minute when he went on a mesmerizing run, beating three defenders before firing home to make it 2-2. However, Romelu Lukaku’s 78th-minute strike proved decisive. Lookman’s goal was his 11th of the season across all competitions, maintaining his impressive form since returning from AFCON triumph.
SPAIN
CHIDERA EJUKE (SEVILLA)
The Super Eagles winger made a welcome return to action after a three-month injury layoff, featuring for the final eight minutes of Sevilla’s crucial 2-1 victory at high-flying Girona. Ejuke, who had been sidelined since October 21, 2024, following an injury against Barcelona, replaced Isaac Romero in the 80th minute.
His presence seemed to bring good fortune as Sevilla ended both their six-game losing streak against Girona and a three-match away drought in La Liga, with Dodi Lukébakio netting a dramatic stoppage-time winner after Saúl Ñíguez had cancelled out Arnau Martínez’s opener.
CHRISANTUS UCHE (GETAFE)
The Nigerian midfielder put in another solid performance as Getafe earned a valuable point in a 1-1 draw against Barcelona at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Uche was influential in the middle of the park, helping his side keep their fight against relegation alive.
The 21-year-old’s tireless running and tactical discipline proved crucial as Getafe moved one point clear of Espanyol in the battle for survival. Despite the challenging circumstances, Uche has established himself as a key player for Getafe since joining this season, making 18 appearances across all competitions.
RASHEEDAT AJIBADE (ATLETICO MADRID)
Super Falcons captain Ajibade ended her eight-game goal drought with a well-taken strike in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Levante Badalona. The forward showed great composure to finish off Fiamma Iannuzzi’s pass in the 16th minute, though Irina Uribe’s second-half equalizer denied Atletico maximum points. It was Ajibade’s first goal since September 2024, taking her season’s tally to six goals in all competitions.
EDNA IMADE, GIFT MONDAY, RINSOLA BABAJIDE (GRANADA/TENERIFE)
In an all-Nigerian clash in Liga F, Granada’s Imade outshone her international teammates as her side secured a 2-1 victory over Tenerife. Imade continued her remarkable scoring run with a spectacular long-range effort in the 39th minute, marking her sixth consecutive game on the scoresheet.
Though Monday pulled one back for Tenerife with a powerful 90th-minute strike – her seventh goal in 13 league appearances – it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat. Babajide had a quiet game before being substituted in the 59th minute.
The result sees Granada climb to fifth while Tenerife remain in mid-table.
GERMANY
NATHAN TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Tella played a crucial role in initiating the move that led to Florian Wirtz’s opening goal as Leverkusen maintained their title charge with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Nigerian winger, who started before being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong in the 63rd minute, won possession near the halfway line to launch the attack. The win keeps Xabi Alonso’s side just four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.