Nigeria’s star players played for their clubs in the penultimate match of the Europa League group stage on Thursday
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface continued his impressive debut season with Bayer Leverkusen, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win against Hacken, reports Soccernet.ng.
Boniface led the Welkself team to Ullevi to face Hakken. All they needed was a draw to seal their place at the top of Group H, but they proved their mettle.
Boniface scored his team’s first goal in the 14th minute, jumping the highest to meet Josip Stanisic’s cross and finishing confidently.
Leverkusen went into half-time despite several attacks from Hakken. Boniface was substituted during the break. Before being substituted, he recorded 19 touches on the ball, one dribble and two clearances. Meanwhile, compatriot Nathan Tella also played 64 minutes for Leverkusen, but failed to score. In the end, Patrik Schick’s goal in the 74th minute sealed the victory for Bayer Leverkusen.
In the other game, Chuba Akpom came off the bench to score again for Ajax. Godenzones played against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome, and coach Van’t Schip started Akpom from the bench. The Nigerian attacker has performed well in recent weeks, scoring five goals in his last five games, but remains on the bench.
It was a dramatic performance as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Marseille the lead in the ninth minute before Brian Brobby hit back a minute later. In the 26th minute, Chancellor Mbemba again gave Marseille the lead, but in the 30th minute Brobbie scored again.
The game ended 2-2 at halftime. Then, just two minutes after the restart, Aubameyang scored Marseille’s third goal. Unfortunately for Ajax, Steven Berghaus received a red card in the 62nd minute for a failed tackle.
Shipp introduced Akpom in the 77th minute and the Nigerian made a huge impact just two minutes later. He leapt up to meet Christian Frinson’s cross and sent in a header to make Ajax his 3-3.
Unfortunately for Godensonen, Aubameyang scored in stoppage time to make the score 4-3. This defeat effectively eliminated Ajax from the Europa League.
Meanwhile, in Belgium, Ghent’s Gift Orbán scored in a 4-1 victory over Zorya Luhansk at the Geramco Stadium.
Orbán did not score in the last two games for Ghent, but was still included in the squad against Zorya at the KAA Ghent Arena.
The Buffaloes were the overwhelming favorites to win the title and showed their mettle with goals from Malik Fofana and Arseniy Batagov (OG) to give Gento a two-goal lead after 49 minutes.
Orbán then scored his third goal in the 54th minute. He put a precise cross into the penalty area and the ball hit the right post to make it 3-0.
Orbán had another chance to score in the 79th minute, but his shot went wide. The Nigerian striker played the entire game, scoring four shots on goal and taking 39 touches.
