Nigerian exports: Nantes' Simon, Rizespor's Olawoyin, Akintola end goal droughts; Ojediran opens Lens account

Super Eagles players Moses Simon and Ibrahim Olawoyin ended their goal droughts in league matches on Saturday, November 9 and experienced mixed fortunes, with Nantes throwing away their lead to lose 3-2 at RC Lens and Rizespor coming from behind to register an impressive 3-1 home win against Trabzonspor.

Before the trip to Lens, Simon had fired blanks in six consecutive matches in the French Ligue 1, while Olawoyin went twelve games without scoring in the Super Lig, with his last strike coming against Besiktas on May 3, 2024.

Experienced Lens forward Przemysław Frankowski converted from the spot to give the home team the lead in the 21st minute but the two teams were level at the break as Moses Simon converted a penalty of his own five minutes after the opener. 

The Nigeria national teamer turned from scorer to provider when he teed up Nicolas Cozza in the 71st minute to make it 2-1 in favour of Nantes.

But Lens snatched a victory in the closing minutes, scoring twice through Nigeria's 2019 Fifa U17 World Cup star Hamzat Ojediran and Adrien Thomasson. 

Ojediran hit the target with a right footed shot after a slightly deflected cross from Deiver Machado - his first goal in what was his fifth appearance for Lens.

Simon has directly participated in seven goals (3 goals, 4 assists) from ten appearances this season and is the most decisive player in the Nantes squad. 

In the Super Lig, Olawoyin and FC Ebedei product David Akintola played a key role as Rizespor came from behind to beat Trabzonspor 3-1 at Çaykur Didi, with the later ending a fourteen-game goal drought in the Turkish top flight.

Seventy one minutes into the contest, Akintola blasted the ball home with a left-footed strike from close range after a deflection fell kindly to him. 

Ten minutes later, Olawoyin sealed the win with another close range effort after he was left unmarked in the box.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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