Nigerians in Germany & France: Onyeka and Simon shine as Augsburg and Nantes win

Several Nigerian footballers were in action across Germany and France, delivering standout performances for their clubs, Soccernet.ng reports.

Onyeka leads Augsburg to victory in Bundesliga
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka produced an impressive midfield display to inspire Augsburg to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Surprisingly left out of Nigeria’s squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe by head coach Eric Chelle, Onyeka responded with a tireless and disciplined performance.

Nigeria Super Eagles and Augsburg Frank Onyeka. Photo by IMAGO
The 27-year-old was instrumental in midfield as Augsburg extended their unbeaten run to six games while also keeping their sixth consecutive clean sheet.

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Abiama assists as 1860 München edge Unterhaching
In Germany’s 3. Liga, Dickson Abiama played a key role in 1860 München’s 2-1 victory over Unterhaching, providing the crucial assist for the winning goal.

Unterhaching took an early lead through Lenn Jastremski, but Lukas Reich equalized for the hosts just before halftime. Abiama then set up Tunay Deniz to score the decisive goal on the hour mark, securing all three points for 1860 München.

Despite Maximilian Wolfram’s red card in the 73rd minute, 1860 München held on for the win. Abiama, who joined from Kaiserslautern last June, is still awaiting his first goal for the club.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles invitee Noah Sarenren Bazee was a late substitute in Arminia Bielefeld’s 1-0 away victory against Osnabrück. The 28-year-old midfielder has scored twice in 16 league appearances this season.

Simon’s assist secures vital win for 10-man Nantes
In Ligue 1, Moses Simon registered his eighth assist of the season, delivering a pinpoint cross for Mostafa Mohamed’s winning goal as Nantes battled past Lille 1-0 at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Nigeria Super Eagles and Nantes winger Moses Simon. Photo Credit X
Nantes, desperate to escape the relegation battle after back-to-back defeats, held firm against Lille’s relentless second-half pressure.

The home side’s challenge grew tougher after Jean-Charles Castelletto was sent off in the 74th minute, but their resilience paid off in the 83rd minute when Simon’s precise delivery set up Mohamed for his fourth goal of the season.

Nigeria Super Eagles and Nantes forward Moses Simon. Photo Credit X
The victory lifted Nantes to 14th place with 27 points from 26 games, six points clear of the relegation zone. Lille, meanwhile, missed the chance to break into the top four, remaining fifth with 44 points.

Nantes will look to build on this momentum when they face Le Havre on March 30 after the international break, while Lille will aim to bounce back against Lens.

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.

From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.