Nigerian Exports: Iwobi Shines But Arsenal Lose; Awurum Nets 14th League Goal; Okwunwanne Sparks Comeback; Utaka Benched

Catch up on the performances of players of Nigerian descent based abroad on Wednesday.

We begin with the Champions League game at the Nou Camp. Arsenal rising star Alex Iwobi was handed his first-ever start in the competition as the Gunners failed to advance to the quarterfinals , losing 5-1 on aggregate to their Spanish opponents.

The Nigeria international was the liveliest player for Arsenal before he was substituted in the 73rd minute.

Bayern Munich’s Austrian-Nigerian wing-back David Alaba played the entirety (120 minutes) of his team’s come-from-behind victory against Juventus. It ended 4-2 at the Allianz Arena.

In an English Championship tie at Crown Ground, Gozie Ugwu played the last 35 minutes of Wycombe Wanderers’s 1-1 draw away to Accrington Stanley.

In the Portuguese Segunda Liga, Stanley Awurum notched his 14th goal in the league as Varzim beat Sporting CP 2-1 at
Estádio Varzim Sport Club. He struck in the 75th minute.

Super Eagles defender Kingsley Madu was introduced in the 54th minute as Trencin beat 2-1 in the Slovakian Cup. Samuel Kalu started the game only to be replaced in the 27th minute.

Rabiu Ibrahim, Christoper Udeh and Aliko Bala were not involved in this one.

In the Asian Champions League, Peter Utaka was on the bench as Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima thrashed Buriram United 3-0 at home, their first win in Group F of the competition.

Bahrain international Jaycee Okwunwanne found the net in the 84th minute as Bangkok United fought back from two goals down to beat Army United 4-3.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel