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MEN ON FIRE! Lookman Opens 2024/25 Goals, Onyeka Impresses On Augsburg Debut

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• Lookman opens 2024/25 goals, assists accounts

•Onyeka impresses on Augsburg debut

Fresh from powering Nigeria to the top of their group in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Nigerian stars returned to their various clubs abroad and ran the show with goals and assists, while the women were not left out as well.

In his first league game of the season for Atalanta, Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman picked things up from where he stopped on international duty for Nigeria, grabbing a goal and an assist in their 3-2 win over Fiorentina.

Lookman had missed La Dea’s first three games of the season due to transfer speculations, but he showed Gian Piero Gasperini’s side why his stock has risen with a world-class assist for Mateo Retegui, who nodded down past David de Gea for his fourth goal in as many matches for Atalanta. After the home team had equalised the second time, Lookman sped away on the left, and the Europa League final hero cut in to roll inside De Gea’s near post for the match-winner before halftime.

FRANCE

MOSES SIMON (NANTES)

AKOR ADAMS (MONTPELLIER)

Simon made it three goals contributions in four games for Nantes this season on Sunday with an assist for Douglas Augusto but his effort was not enough to save them from a 2-1 defeat at home to Stade Reims. The 29-year-old forward now has two goals and one assist in four games this season. Adams was on for the duration of the game but couldn’t add to his one goal this season.

GERMANY

FRANK ONYEKA (AUGSBURG)

Fresh from making a switch from EPL side Brentford to Augsburg, Onyeka justified why he needed more game time as he marked his debut with an assist in their 3-1 win over St. Pauli at the WWK Arena.

Marius Wolf opened the scoring for the hosts after the restart, and Onyeka was the provider of the second, a pinpoint cross to substitute Phillip Tietz, who volleyed home at the back post.

ENGLAND

AJAYI, MAJA (WEST BROM)

Josh Maja was involved in his sixth goal contribution of the season for West Brom, providing an assist in their Championship 2-0 win at Portsmouth on Sunday. He had four goals and one assist heading into the game.

Semi Ajayi also made his fifth start of the season, helping them to their fourth win of the campaign as they remained top of the table with 13 points.

SCOTLAND

DESSERS, BALOGUN

Cyriel Dessers’ fourth goal involvement of the season was an assist for Wales midfielder Tom Lawrence, as his seventh-minute goal was enough for Rangers to secure a 1-0 win at Dundee United on Sunday. He was taken off in the 65th minute for Morocco forward Hamza Igamane, while his compatriot Leon Balogun was an unused substitute in the game. The Nigeria striker has scored three goals this term.

SPAIN

RASHEEDAT AJIBADE (ATLETICO WOMEN)

Super Falcons forward Ajibade was an unused substitute as Atletico Madrid Women began their season with a 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

SATURDAY

ENGLAND

WILFRED NDIDI (LEICESTER CITY)

Wilfred Ndidi was a bright spark for Leicester, setting up both of their goals as they came close to securing their first win of the season. The Nigerian midfielder first assisted Jamie Vardy in the 27th minute, threading a precise pass for the veteran striker to round Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and slot the ball home.

His second came moments into the second half, capitalising on a poor clearance by Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix to lay a perfect pass for Stephy Mavididi, who fired past Henderson to double the Foxes’ lead.

However, Leicester’s two-goal advantage was undone in the second half, with Palace pulling one back through Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute and equalising in stoppage time via a penalty after Conor Coady fouled Ismaila Sarr. Mateta stepped up and calmly converted, leaving the Foxes without a win after four games.

AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

At Anfield, Ola Aina starred for Nottingham Forest in a memorable 1-0 win over Liverpool. The Nigerian defender played the full 90 minutes and was outstanding in neutralising Liverpool’s attack, particularly dealing with Luis Diaz.

Aina’s most crucial contribution came when he cleared a goal-bound effort off the line, denying Diaz in the first half. Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession and several chances, including Diaz hitting the post, Forest stood firm.

The match was decided by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s spectacular second-half goal. The substitute curled in a beautiful strike from the edge of the box to hand Forest their first win at Anfield since 1969. Aina’s disciplined defensive display was key in keeping Liverpool at bay as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side continued their unbeaten start to the season.

Aina’s compatriot, Taiwo Awoniyi, was an unused substitute.

TOM DELE-BASHIRU (WATFORD)

In the Championship, Watford were facing imminent defeat at home to Coventry City after Ellis Simms gave the visitors a 4th-minute lead. However, Tom Dele-Bashiru popped up in the Coventry danger area just past the hour mark to side-foot Watford’s equaliser for a 1-1 draw.

GERMANY

BONIFACE, TELLA (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)

Victor Boniface opened his 2024/25 German Bundesliga goals account in style, netting a brace and providing an assist as Bayer Leverkusen secured a commanding 4-1 away victory against Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga on Saturday.

The Nigeria international, who had been suspended for unprofessional conduct in his previous league appearance, marked his return with a Man-of-the-Match performance that helped the champions return to winning ways.

Boniface wasted no time in making his impact felt, setting up Martin Terrier for the opener in the 17th minute with a perfectly weighted square pass before doubling Leverkusen’s advantage in the 30th minute after latching onto a pass from Granit Xhaka and firing a low, powerful finish past goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Despite Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha pulling one back before halftime, Leverkusen remained in control of the game.

Florian Wirtz extended the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute after Dennis Geiger fouled Alejandro Grimaldo.

Boniface then sealed the comfortable win for Xabi Alonso’s side with 15 minutes remaining, showcasing his brilliance by cutting in from the left and beating Baumann with a clinical effort.

His compatriot Nathan Tella came on in the 57th minute for Ghana’s Jeremie Frimpong.

SPAIN

BABAJIDE, MONDAY (TENERIFE)

Over to Spain, where Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide made it the Nigerian show as they contributed three goals in UD Tenerife’s 4-1 win against Sevilla. Monday scored two goals and claimed an assist, but it was Babajide’s long-range strike that was the peak as Tenerife secured their first win of the season.

BELGIUM

AROKODARE, SOR

In Belgium, Nigeria’s Yira Sor delivered an outstanding performance to help Genk to a thrilling 3-2 win at Cercle Brugge. Sor scored the opening goal and assisted for the other two, including Tolu Arokodare’s game winner.


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