Nigerian Player Watch: Weekend Review (12–14 September 2025)

The weekend of 12–14 September 2025 was action-packed for Nigerian footballers across Europe. From the English Premier League to Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Turkey, Super Eagles stars and Nigerian-eligible players left their mark. Some shone brightly with goals and assists, while others battled injuries or disciplinary issues that kept them out of action.

Here’s your comprehensive and detailed roundup of how Nigerian players fared in Europe this past weekend.

Premier League (England)

Fulham 1–0 Leeds United

• Alex Iwobi — Started and played 90 minutes. He was a constant creative spark in midfield, contributing to the late corner that forced the stoppage-time own goal that sealed Fulham’s win.
• Calvin Bassey — Also played the full 90 minutes. His solid defensive display ensured Fulham kept a clean sheet in this hard-fought victory.

Crystal Palace 0–0 Sunderland

• Christantus Uche — Made his Premier League debut as a late substitute. Despite limited minutes, the youngster impressed with his energy, touches in the box, and duel success rate. Palace fans will be eager to see more of him this season.

Nottingham Forest 0–3 Arsenal

• Ola Aina — Did not play. The Super Eagles defender is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained on Nigeria duty and is expected to be out for around three months.
• Taiwo Awoniyi — Did not feature. The striker was not part of the matchday squad as Forest reshuffled their lineup.

Bundesliga (Germany)

Borussia Mönchengladbach 0–4 Werder Bremen

• Victor Boniface — Made his Werder Bremen debut after a late summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. Coming on around the 75th minute, he immediately made an impact by providing the assist for Justin Njinmah’s goal. His sharp playmaking capped off a dominant Bremen win and underlined his readiness to make waves in the Bundesliga.

Serie A (Italy)

Pisa 0–1 Udinese

• Maduka Okoye — Did not feature. The Nigerian goalkeeper is serving a two-month suspension handed down in July. Udinese still claimed a clean sheet without him, but Okoye’s absence continues to be a talking point.

Ligue 1 (France)

Nice 1–0 Nantes

• Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes) — Played the full 90 minutes. He put in a commanding defensive performance with multiple clearances and aerial duels won, though Nantes still slipped to a narrow defeat.
• Terem Moffi (Nice) — Came off the bench in the second half and instantly made his presence felt. He forced a strong save and was involved in attacking sequences, reminding fans why he remains one of Nigeria’s most dangerous forwards in France.

Turkish Süper Lig (Turkey)

Eyüpspor 0–2 Galatasaray

• Victor Osimhen — Did not feature. The striker was rested after picking up a minor ankle issue during international duty. Despite his absence, Galatasaray secured a comfortable 2–0 win with goals from Mauro Icardi and Yunus Akgün.

Standout Nigerian Performances

1. Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen) — Debut assist in a commanding 4–0 victory. A perfect way to introduce himself to Bremen fans.
2. Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace) — Lively Premier League debut off the bench, showing great promise.
3. Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes) — Rock-solid at the back despite defeat, proving to be a defensive leader.
4. Alex Iwobi & Calvin Bassey (Fulham) — Both started, both impressed, and both were key in Fulham’s win over Leeds.

Analysis & What It Means for the Super Eagles

• Impact players rising: Boniface and Uche’s contributions show Nigeria has new attacking talents emerging strongly in Europe’s top leagues.
• Injury concerns: Ola Aina’s long-term hamstring problem and Victor Osimhen’s ankle issue are concerns for Nigeria’s national team depth.
• Consistency matters: Players like Iwobi, Bassey, and Awaziem continue to prove their reliability with consistent minutes and solid performances, which will be crucial for club and country.

Conclusion

The weekend of 12–14 September 2025 showcased Nigerian talent across Europe — from debutants to seasoned internationals. While some players stole the headlines with goals and assists, others were notable for their resilience and consistency.

As the season progresses, fans will be keeping a close eye on how these players develop and how their form translates to the Super Eagles setup. One thing is certain: Nigerian footballers abroad continue to fly the flag high.

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