A host of Nigerian players were in action on a dramatic Thursday night in the UEFA Europa League, with standout performances from Cyriel Dessers, Leon Balogun, and Callum Olusesi, Soccernet.football reports.
At Old Trafford, Rangers narrowly fell 2-1 to Manchester United in a thrilling encounter.
Cyriel Dessers, fighting to regain his best form, scored Rangers’ equalizer in the 88th minute. The Nigerian striker latched onto James Tavernier’s incisive pass and fired a precise low drive into the bottom corner, for his second Europa League goal this season.
Dessers’ recent resurgence also included a stunning Scottish Cup hat-trick against Fraserburgh F.C. last weekend, hinting at a return to his lethal best.
Leon Balogun, starting his first game since recovering from injury, was solid in the heart of Rangers’ defence during the first half. The veteran center-back recorded two tackles, an interception, and won three duels, ensuring Manchester United’s attackers found no joy.
However, he was substituted at halftime for Bailey Rice, a move that saw Rangers concede an own goal by Jack Butland shortly after the restart. Bruno Fernandes sealed the win for United with a late strike, effectively confirming their progression to the last 16.
Elsewhere, Lazio’s 3-1 triumph over Real Sociedad saw Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru feature as a second-half substitute. Though he couldn’t add to his two goals and two assists in the competition, Dele-Bashiru will be pleased with Lazio’s top-spot finish and early qualification for the knockout rounds.
In Thessaloníki, Igoh Ogbu‘s Slavia Prague fell 2-0 to Greek side PAOK, a result that confirmed their elimination from the tournament.
Despite Ogbu’s efforts, Slavia Prague struggled to contain the visitors’ attack and now face Malmö in their final group game with little to play for.
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Meanwhile, Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma endured a tough night as Tottenham Hotspur edged a thrilling 3-2 victory in Germany.
The game, however, recorded a milestone for 17-year-old Nigerian midfielder Callum Olusesi, who made his long-awaited senior debut for Spurs.
Olusesi, introduced in the 89th minute, completed all four of his passes in his short cameo. Known for his creativity and versatility, the London-born youngster has been a standout performer in Tottenham’s youth setup, scoring four goals in Premier League 2 this season.
Manager Ange Postecoglou rewarded his consistency with a debut, and Olusesi will hope this marks the start of a promising senior career.
