Onuachu Injured as Southampton Falls to Liverpool in Premier League Defeat

It was a tough day for Nigerian footballers playing abroad on November 24, 2024, as several stars faced disappointing defeats, with some even dealing with injuries. Paul Onuachu, who had been performing well for Southampton, was forced to leave the field early in the match against Liverpool due to a knock. Despite his promising performance in the first 52 minutes, Onuachu’s injury marred his sixth Premier League appearance this season. His teammate, Joe Aribo, also had a difficult outing, coming in as a substitute after Adam Lallana’s injury, as Southampton succumbed to a 2-0 loss.

In France, Gabriel Osho had a standout performance with Auxerre, earning a clean sheet in their 1-0 win against Angers. However, Moses Simon couldn’t inspire Nantes to victory, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Le Havre.

Meanwhile, Rinsola Babajide provided a bright moment in Spain, scoring early for Tenerife in their clash with Barcelona, though the match ended in a heavy 5-1 loss. In the Netherlands, Chuba Akpom’s Ajax won 2-0 against Zwolle, but the Nigerian striker, who started from the bench, was unable to score.

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Other Nigerian players also faced mixed results over the weekend. In Saudi Arabia, William Troost-Ekong’s Al Kholood lost 2-1 to Damac. In Italy, Ademola Lookman netted his 14th goal of the season in Atalanta’s 3-1 win against Parma. Meanwhile, in Belgium, Raphael Onyedika scored his first goal of the season for Club Brugge, while Tolu Arokodare contributed to Genk’s 3-0 victory over Sporting Charleroi in the league.

In Turkey, Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes for Galatasaray in a 1-0 win against Bodrum FK, but could not register a goal or assist. On a more positive note, David Akintola played a pivotal role in Rizespor’s 2-1 win against Eyüpspor, assisting both goals.

The weekend’s action highlights the ups and downs for Nigerian footballers abroad, as some made key contributions to their teams’ successes, while others dealt with injury setbacks or defeats.