Super Eagles footballers delivered elite performances across several European leagues over the weekend, producing goals, assists, and influential displays for their clubs.
From Italy’s dramatic comeback victories to crucial goals in Spain and Russia, the latest round of fixtures saw Nigerian internationals and rising talents play pivotal roles for their respective teams.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of how Nigerian players fared across Europe.
FA Cup Heartbreak for Iwobi, Bassey and Chukwueze
Super Eagles trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze saw their hopes of lifting the FA Cup come to a disappointing end after Fulham F.C. suffered a shock Round-of-16 elimination.
The Premier League side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat Championship side, Southampton F.C. at Craven Cottage.
Fulham believed they had opened the scoring in the first half when Rodrigo Muniz finished after a strange sequence involving goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
However, referee Jarred Gillett had already blown his whistle for an alleged moving ball during the goal-kick, meaning VAR could not intervene.
Southampton eventually found the breakthrough late in the match. Midfielder Finn Azaz first struck the crossbar before winning a penalty following contact from Joachim Andersen.
Striker Ross Stewart calmly converted the spot-kick in stoppage time to send Southampton into the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Fulham manager, Marco Silva admitted the defeat was deeply frustrating.
“Completely disappointing result and afternoon for us, for the football club and for the fans mainly.”
“[They] are going to be the ones that are going to suffer because the expectations, as always, were very high.
“Basically, a really, really bad day for us that has to make us look inside of ourselves and move on.”
Iwobi remains the only one among the Nigerian trio to have previously lifted the FA Cup, having won the trophy with Arsenal F.C. in 2017.
With the cup campaign now over, Fulham shift their focus back to the Premier League where they sit 10th with nine matches remaining.
