You are currently viewing NAIJA PLAYERS GPS | 21ST – 24TH OCTOBER 2022
OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROMA, ITALY - 2022/10/23: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the goal of 0-1 during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and SSC Napoli. Napoli won 1-0 over Roma. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images)

NAIJA PLAYERS GPS | 21ST – 24TH OCTOBER 2022

PETER OLAYINKA NETS FIRST DERBY GOAL

Peter Olayinka was on target in the 304th Prague derby as Slavia hammered bitter rivals Sparta 4-0 at Fortuna Arena. Three minutes into first half stoppage time, Olayinka fired the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper to wrap up the scoring. His first league goal against Sparta Praha since moving to Czech Republic. The big victory took them five points clear of their rivals as they took control of second spot in the league table.

Utkani 3. kola ceskeho fotbaloveho poharu MOL Cupu: Dukla Praha – Slavia Praha, 19. rijna 2022, Praha. Hraci Slavie Stanislav Tecl vlevo a Peter Olayinka se raduji z ctvrteho golu. CTKPhotoP2022101907817 PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCZExSVK

Moses Usor also came on for his first derby appearance with Yira Sor an unused sub in the fixture.

ANOTHER IWOBI SHOW

Everton up against Crystal Palace was a fixture that pitted the in form Alex Iwobi against Eberechi Eze, a player some section of Nigeria football fans would love and hope to see play for the Super Eagles. It was Alex Iwobi who ran the show at the Goodison Park with another scintillating performance, providing two assists and eventually winning the man of the match prize.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Alex Iwobi of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on October 22, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Emma Simpson/Everton FC via Getty Images)

Everton’s chief architect has provided five assists in the league so far this season, earning Everton 10 of their 13 points. Only Kevin De Bruyne (9) has more than his Premier League assists total this season.

BANG! BANG! ONUACHU

Paul Onuachu delivered a man-of-the-match performance with a brilliant brace to spur KRC Genk to a deserving 3-1 win at Royal Antwerp on Sunday afternoon. The top of the table clash against Alhassan Yusuf’s Royal Antwerp was a hugely anticipated fixture and it lived up to the billing.

Genk’s Paul Onuachu celebrates after scoring a goal during the Belgian Proleague football match between Antwerp and KRC Genk on October 23, 2022 in Antwerp. – Belgium OUT (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM / BELGA / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

He hit the target in the 33rd minute to make it two-nil for the visitors, Vincent Janssen halved the deficit for Antwerp just before halftime. However, Onuachu had the last laugh as he powered home a header off the post midway into the second half. It was all Genk needed to claim all three points and establish a four-point advantage over Antwerp. With his latest brace, Onuachu has now scored eight goals in his last five matches. Not bad for a guy who did not score a goal in his first five league matches.

LEON, EKONG, AINA ON TARGET

Defenders Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong & Ola Aina also scored crucial goals for their respective teams as they claimed all three points.

For Leon Balogun it was his first goal for QPR against his former side and it proved to be the winner in an impressive defensive display against Wigan in the Championship. High flying Queens Park Rangers are top of the English Championship with 30 points from 16 games so far.

Queens Park Rangers’ Leon Balogun (centre) celebrates scoring his sides second goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match at Loftus Road, London. Picture date: Saturday October 22, 2022. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the Championship, William Troost Ekong is getting his groove back under new manager Slaven Bilic at the Vicarage road after scoring his first goal of the season for Watford in their huge home 4-0 derby win over Luton Town. He has started the last 5 games for Watford, four under new manager Slaven Bilic.

WATFORD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: William Troost-Ekong of Watford celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Luton Town at Vicarage Road on October 23, 2022 in Watford, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

And in Italy, Ola Aina opened the scoring for Torino in their 1-2 away win over high flying Udinese. The versatile defender found games hard to come by earlier this year at Torino but it has been a commendable turn around this season as he has featured 10 times in the league so far, starting seven.

UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 23: Ola Aina of Torino FC celebrates with teammates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Torino FC at Dacia Arena on October 23, 2022 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

OSIMHEN STRIKES AGAIN

For the third game running since making his return from injury, Victor Osimhen gets on the scoresheet as he has so far showed no signs of backing down to the strong striking competition at Serie A league leaders Napoli. His brilliant taken goal at the Stadio Olympico was one to behold and cherish as it came at a crucial point of the game clinching all three points away at Jose Mourinho’s Roma setting a new Partenopei record of 11 straight victories.

OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROMA, ITALY – 2022/10/23: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli beats Chris Smalling and Rui Patricio of AS Roma and scores the goal of 0-1 during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and SSC Napoli. Napoli won 1-0 over Roma. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The hard-fought win at the Stadio Olimpico moved them three points clear at the top of the table. The last time Napoli recorded 10 straight victories was in 1986 when the late Diego Maradona was captain.

TAIWO AWONIYI PUNISH FORMER EMPLOYERS

Taiwo Awoniyi produced the match-winner for Forest as they condemned Jurgen Klopp’s side to a slim 1-0 loss at the City Ground on Saturday. Awoniyi revealed earlier in the season that he was looking forward to facing the Merseysiders and boy he did deliver.

“I think this team will stick together; we’re a family; the fans are always with us; we just have to keep on going,” Awoniyi told BT Sport post-match, as quoted by The Mirror. “I was looking forward to playing Liverpool because they signed me when I was 18 and it was an emotional game for me. For me, I think it’s a good game for my team. We had the plan to stay compact, and in the end, we won. I’m very happy about it.”

Nottingham Forest’s Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 22, 2022. – – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

The Super Eagles striker has now scored the winning goal for both their home wins but observed a muted goal celebration after six years as a Liverpool player.

In Turkey, Babajide David scored for the second game in a row in Adana’s 1-1 draw with Konyaspor. Innocent Bonke provides an assist in an impressive midfield display for Lorient in France while Silas Nwankwo scored his 8th goal of the season in Mjallby’s big home win.

 

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