X-raying Performance Of Nigeria Players In EPL Match-day One

X-raying Performance Of Nigeria Players In EPL Match-day One

By Gbenga Gboyega

Luca Koleosho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ola Aina, Eberechi Eze, Alex Iwobi, Elijah Adebayo, Dominic Solanke, and Lesley Ugochukwu, all starred in the 2023-24 English Premier League match day One, bsnsports.com.ng can report.

Luca Warrick Daeovie Koleosho started the trend following his half an hour debut with Manchester City in the Premier League's opener on Friday, replacing Danish teammate Jacob Bruun Larsen in the 61st minute, in a 3-0 rout against Burnley.

Koleosho is eligible to represent the United States, Canada, Nigeria, and Italy, based on his birth and life in the United States, born to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother.

He appeared with the United States U15 team (4x), and the Canada senior national team (3x), then accepted a call-up to the Italy under-19 national team in March 2023.

Taiwo Awoniyi lined up next in Nottingham Forest's season opener against Arsenal, coming off the bench to get a goal off some impressive work from Anthony Elanga in the build-up, but was nothing more than a consolation as the Tricky Tress lost out on his birthday.

Ola Aina also featured in the game, enjoying 72 minutes of game time albeit getting a yellow card in the 28th minute for rough tackling before getting substituted for Neco Williams.

Nigeria-born British player Eberechi Oluchi Eze who is still eligible to feature for the Super Eagles after earning international recognition with a call-up to the England Under-20s squad, starred for Crystal Palace in a 0-1 away win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

The 25-year-old midfielder born to Igbo Parents from Nigeria, played every minute for the Eagles, as he continued from where he left off in previous seasons with his creative and impressive performances, which earned him a 8.3/10 player rating according to Flashscore.

His fellow compatriot Michael Olise did not feature due to suffering a tear to his hamstring while playing for France at last month’s Under-21 Euros and has since undergone surgery.

Crystal Palace coach Roy Hodson said "It was a serious injury which required an operation. He’s well into his rehabilitation but it’s going to take a bit longer for him to recover.

“At the moment we’re just hoping that the rehabilitation will go well and that we get him back as quickly as possible. But we certainly won’t be seeing him for a period of time.”

At Goodison Park, Michelle Alozie's Super Eagles crush Alexander Iwobi featured all through Everton's 1-0 loss to Fulham following a 73-minute strike from Jamaican international Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

Iwobi almost broke the deadlock in the opening stages of the second half, with a fantastic shot on goal but thanks to a timely intervention by Fulham's goalie Bernd Leno before Nathan Patterson crashed the rebound against the crossbar.

League debutants Luton Town starred Elijah Anuoluwapo Adebayo in the starting line-up, as the Nigeria-born British striker played for 64 minutes in a 4-1 loss to Brighton at the Amex stadium before getting replaced by Jacob Brown.

Dominic Ayodele Solanke-Mitchell helped Bournemouth gain a point at the Vitality Stadium following his 82nd-minute goal against West Ham to cancel out Jared Bowen's opener in the 51st minute.

Chelsea gave Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu a 1-minute debut against Liverpool in an enthralling 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, as the Nigeria-born French international joined the Blues for the next eight years for €27 million.