Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 5y

Nigerians Abroad: Chukwueze, Osimhen extend goalscoring form

Standout teenage duo Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen continued their impressive goalscoring streaks just days after earning their first international start during an intriguing weekend for Nigerians abroad.

In this feature, ESPN reviews the performance of the nation's players across European leagues over the weekend following the two-week international break.

England

Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were both substitutes for Leicester City, who played out a 1-1 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion. It was the first time in 63 Premier League appearance that Ndidi had failed to start a game, after being subbed on in the 32nd minute at the Amex Stadium.

Isaac Success played the final 33 minutes of Watford's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool. The game, which was his 13th league appearance of the season, was his first exclusion from the line-up in five matches.

Alex Iwobi was on for 82 minutes when Arsenal secured a 2-1 away win at Bournemouth. It was his 10th Premier League appearance of the season and seventh start.

In the Championship, Ebere Eze provided assists for both goals as Queens Park Rangers battled to a 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

Semi Ajayi featured from start to finish for Rotherham United in a 2-2 home draw against Sheffield United, while Sone Aluko played 67 minutes of Reading's goalless away draw at Wigan Athletic.

Italy

William Troost-Ekong was on for the entire match as Udinese secured a valuable 1-0 home win against Roma. The result ended a seven-game winless streak which stretched back to September.

Joel Obi played 65 minutes of Chievo Verona's impressive goalless away draw at Napoli.

Spain

Kenneth Omeruo played the entire match as he made his sixth successive La Liga appearance of the season as Leganes beat Alaves 1-0 at home.

It was the third time Los Pepineros had kept a clean sheet since Omeruo's debut seven weeks ago, a result which moves them a spot above the drop zone.

Chukwueze scored what proved to be the match-winner for Villarreal as they held off a late challenge from Real Betis to record a 2-1 win. It was Chukwueze's second league goal on his third straight 90-minute outing, on a day the Yellow Submarine ended a six-game winless run.

Germany

In the Bundesliga 2, left-back Jamilu Collins featured for 90 minutes in Paderborn's 5-1 away win at FC Heidenheim.

It was his 14th league appearance in a campaign he has only failed to complete two matches.

France

Samuel Kalu played the final 15 minutes of Bordeaux's goalless draw at Dijon.

Belgium

Uche Agbo was a 30th-minute substitute in Standard Liege's 3-0 home win over Eupen, while Osimhen netted 11 minutes after coming on - his first in four games - in Sporting Charleroi's 4-2 away win at Lokeren.

Anderson Esiti featured for the entire match, while Taiwo Awoniyi was brought on in the 55th minute of Gent's goalless home draw against Royal Antwerp.

Scotland

Efe Ambrose made his 13th successive league start of the season for Hibernian, who were held to a 2-2 home draw by Dundee.

Denmark

Paul Onuachu levelled for Midtjylland in an eventual 2-1 away loss at FC Kobenhavn. It was the forward's ninth league goal of the season.

Norway

Despite opening scoring in the 12th minute with his third league goal in 12 appearances for Start, Adeleke Akinyemi's effort wasn't enough to prevent a 3-1 road defeat against FK Haugesund, an outcome which resulted in relegation for his team.

Compatriot and teammate Afeez Aremu was subbed on in the final nine minutes.

Leke James bagged a second-half brace for Molde, who beat Sanderfjord 3-1 to finish in secon place, while teammate Daniel Chima played the final 28 minutes.

Ifeanyi Matthew was on from start to finish for Lillestrom as they beat Kristiansund 2-0 to secure their top-flight status on the final day of the campaign.

Remarkably, the 21-year-old midfielder featured in every single minute of the season, the second successive year he replicated the feat.

Switzerland

Stephen Odey played the full match and was cautioned in the final minute as FC Zurich and Xamax played out an entertaining 3-3 thriller at Stade de la Maladiere.

Turkey

Henry Onyekuru fired blanks when Galatasaray and Konyaspor battled out to a 1-1 draw. It was the 21-year-old forward's 11th league appearance of the season as he featured for 90 minutes.

Ogenyi Onazi and Anthony Nwakaeme both started for Trabzonspor in their 2-1 win against Fenerbahce. Onazi was cautioned three minutes from time, while Nwakaeme was subbed off after 73 minutes.

Czech Republic

Ubong Ekpai played 83 minutes of Viktoria Plzen's 1-1 away draw at Slovan Liberec.

Russia

Fegor Ogude was substituted at half-time in Yenisey Krasnoyarsk's 2-1 away victory at Dinamo Moscow.

Sylvester Igboun made his 14th league appearance of the season for FC Ufa as they lost 1-0 at FC Orenburg.

Ukraine

Olarenwaju Kayode played the final four minutes of Shakhtar Donetsk's disappointing goalless home draw against FC Lviv.

It was his sixth league outing of the campaign, totalling 133 minutes in that period.

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