Ranking Super Eagles’ best stars of the weekend: Iheanacho 2nd, Bassey 5th

Several Super Eagles stars produced strong performances across Europe and beyond over the weekend of September 11th to 13th, Soccernet.ng reports.

Some of the standout displays came in familiar competitions, while others arrived in leagues that do not always receive the same attention from Super Eagles supporters.

There were also some notable omissions. Victor Osimhen’s injury kept him out of Galatasaray’s 1-0 win at the RAMS Park. Ademola Lookman started for Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad but did not produce enough to make the final ranking. Stanley Nwabali impressed for Chippa United against Mamelodi Sundowns, but a late mistake contributed to the visitors’ equaliser.

Super Eagles’ best stars of the weekend

8. Semi Ajayi, Hull City

Ajayi’s night at Stamford Bridge was more important than his individual rating suggested.

The Super Eagles defender played the full 90 minutes as Hull City held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw in a Premier League match that tested the newly promoted side’s defence. Chelsea took the lead through Morgan Rogers in the seventh minute, but Hull turned the game around through Mohamed Belloumi’s brace before Joao Pedro levelled in the 66th minute.

Ajayi was central to Hull’s resistance. His most notable attacking contribution came in the 34th minute, when he rose to meet a Chelsea corner and headed the ball against the crossbar. The rebound eventually fell to Ryan Giles and then McBurnie before Belloumi’s shot took a deflection and went in.

He also had to deal with Chelsea’s late pressure, including an incident involving Estevao’s penalty appeal after a ball struck Ajayi in the box. The referee rejected the claim.

It was not a spectacular individual display, but holding Chelsea to two goals at Stamford Bridge while playing the entire match gives Ajayi a place in the ranking.

Rating: 7/10

7. David Okereke, Benevento

Okereke made his first start of the season count in Serie B. The Nigerian forward scored Benevento’s second goal in a 3-1 home victory over Hellas Verona at the Stadio Ciro Vigorito on Friday night.

After Edoardo Pierozzi put Benevento ahead in the 17th minute and Amin Sarr equalised seven minutes later, Okereke restored the home side’s lead in the 59th minute. He collected the ball outside the penalty area and produced a powerful right-footed finish into the top-left corner.

That goal changed the game. Davide Lamesta added Benevento’s third in the 65th minute to complete the win.

Okereke also tested Verona’s goalkeeper early in the match and worked across the attacking line before being substituted in the 78th minute. More importantly, his goal arrived when Benevento needed someone to break the deadlock again.

Rating: 7.3/10

6. Emmanuel Fernandez, Rangers

Fernandez delivered a strong defensive performance in one of Scotland’s most demanding fixtures.

Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox on Sunday to reach the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, and the Nigerian defender played his part in a result that ended Rangers’ run of six consecutive cup defeats against their Old Firm rivals.

Fernandez was aggressive in the duel and dangerous at set pieces. He even had the ball in the net during the second half, although the effort was ruled out for offside. He then came close to getting a touch on a dangerous Djeidi Gassama delivery across the Celtic goal.

Rangers’ back line kept Celtic scoreless while the midfield and attack took control of the contest. Fernandez also drew a foul from Shumaira Mheuka late in the match, although he was booked for a foul in the closing stages.

He did not score a valid goal, but contributing to a clean sheet in a 3-0 Old Firm win makes this one of his more convincing displays of the season.

Rating: 7.5/10

5. Calvin Bassey, Fulham

Bassey produced the kind of performance that does not always show up in the goals column.

Fulham travelled to Anfield looking for their first Premier League point of the season and left with it after holding Liverpool to a 0-0 draw.

The Nigeria international was at the centre of Fulham’s defensive effort. He made three recoveries, one interception and five clearances while winning all three of his ground duels.

Liverpool had chances after the break, but Fulham’s defence refused to collapse. Bassey played the full 90 minutes and was rated as Fulham’s second-best player, while also receiving the highest rating among the club’s defenders.

The value of his performance is tied to the opponent. Liverpool had just beaten Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and were playing at Anfield, yet Fulham left with a clean sheet.

Bassey did not need a goal or assist to make this list. His defending was enough.

Rating: 7.8/10

4. Akor Adams, Venezia

Adams finally got the Serie A moment he had been waiting for. Venezia hosted Fiorentina on Friday night with both clubs still searching for their first league points of the season. The Super Eagles striker gave the home side the perfect start when he scored in the 22nd minute.

Adams received Gianluca Busio’s pass on the right side of the penalty area and finished first time into the far corner. It was his first Serie A goal for Venezia after failing to score in his opening three league appearances.

The goal was especially impressive because Fiorentina had started the game better. Adams punished the visitors with one of the few clear openings Venezia created in the opening period.

The problem was that Venezia could not protect the lead. Franco Mastantuono scored twice in the 29th and 30th minutes, Mateo Pellegrino made it 3-1 in the 66th, and Mastantuono completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute. Antoine Hainaut added a late consolation as Fiorentina won 4-2.

Adams therefore drops below the players who either scored multiple goals or produced decisive performances in winning teams. Still, scoring against a Serie A opponent and ending a three-match league drought earns him a place near the top.

Rating: 7.8/10

3. George Ilenikhena, Al-Ittihad

Ilenikhena provided two assists in Al-Ittihad’s 3-1 victory away to Al-Faisaly on Friday, but his overall influence was greater than the raw numbers suggest.

The 20-year-old started alongside Youssef En-Nesyri and helped Al-Ittihad take control before half-time. In the 43rd minute, he sent a low cross into the area for En-Nesyri to finish from close range.

He was involved again in the 59th minute, supplying another pass for En-Nesyri to score his second goal of the night.

Ilenikhena was substituted in the 63rd minute, but his work had already helped put Al-Ittihad in command. He received an 8.3 FotMob rating for the performance.

The two assists took his league tally to four goals and two assists in seven appearances. That run includes a two-goal performance against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on September 5 and another goal against Al-Fayha three days later.

Rating: 8.3/10

2. Kelechi Iheanacho, Bursaspor

Iheanacho’s scoring run simply refused to stop. The former Leicester City and Manchester City forward scored again on Sunday as Bursaspor drew 2-2 with Esenler Erokspor in the Turkish 1. Lig.

Iheanacho opened the scoring in the 16th minute, giving Bursaspor a 1-0 lead. Erokspor equalised two minutes later, but Lincoln Henrique restored the home side’s advantage in the 20th minute.

The visitors eventually levelled through Yusuf Erdoğan in the 50th minute, leaving Bursaspor with a point rather than another victory.

Iheanacho’s goal was still significant. He has now scored in seven consecutive league matches, with his tally reaching nine goals and two assists. Bursaspor moved to 16 points and stayed top of the table on goal difference.

The Nigerian has become the focal point of Bursaspor’s attack since joining the club, and his latest goal came in another match where the team needed him to produce.

Rating: 8.6/10

1. Gift Orban, Amedspor

Gift Orban produced the weekend’s most complete Nigerian attacking display. The striker scored a hat-trick as Amedspor destroyed Istanbul Basaksehir 5-0 in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.

Amedspor led 1-0 at half-time after an own goal, but Orban took control after the break. He scored in the 52nd minute and again in the 56th to turn the match into a comfortable home victory.

He was not finished. Orban completed his hat-trick later in the second half, giving Amedspor a 4-0 lead before Diagne added the fifth in the 83rd minute.

His three goals came against a Super Lig side that had started the season with four points from its opening four matches. Amedspor, meanwhile, turned a strong home performance into one of the most convincing wins of the weekend.

Orban’s numbers were outstanding. He played 80 minutes, scored three times and received a 9.6 FotMob rating. That followed his two-goal display against Kasımpaşa last weekend.

The latest hat-trick also pushed his league tally to six goals in five appearances. He had scored once against Trabzonspor before adding two against Kasımpaşa and three against Basaksehir.

Rating: 9.6/10