Nigeria Forwards Power FC Sheriff To A 3-0 In Their UEL Opening Match
Two Nigerian players dominated the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League (UEL) match between Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) and FC Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova). The men, Rasheed Ibrahim Akanbi and Iyayi Believe Atiemwen, put up scintillating performances as they helped the Moldovan outfit to defeat their hosts.The home side started the game but their first shot was off target.
The visitor’s goalkeeper, took a long goal kick which found 23-year-old Akanbi in the left wing. The Lagos-born made a run and dribbled the ball past Nicosia’s defenders to get his first goal of the tournament in the second minute. This makes it the fastest goal of the day.>>>>>CONTINUE READING HERE>>>>>
As soon as the goal was scored, the Sheriff began to play defensive game and ended the first half win a 1-0 over the Cypriot outfit.Ten minutes after the break, Iyayi Atiemwen won a penalty kick. The left-winger (who was deployed as a striker in the match) converted the penalty to bring the margin to 2-0.
Fourteen minutes before regulation time, Rasheed Akanbi was instrumental in the third goal. He gave the pass that led to Mouhamed Diop’s goal.
It is instructive to note that both Atiemwen (who is 26 years old) joined the Moldavan outfit on free transfer from Dinamo Zagreb on July 1, 2022 while his compatriot moved from Turjish club, Kocaelispor for a fee of one hundred and eight thousand Euros on the same day. They both played huge parts in the qualifiers.
It is worthy of note that the home side deployed Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, to man the goal in the second half. Another young Nigerian, Emmanuel Esseh Emegha was also on target for Austrian outfit Sturm Graz when they hosted Danish club, Midtjylland.
His 8th minute goal was the only one in the game. The highest goal scorer in UCL qualifying series, Victor Boniface also made the assist that that to the victory of Union SG over Union Berlin on the same night.
