Nigerian Stars Abroad Round-Up: Gift Orban, David Okereke, Victor Olatunji & Emmanuel Ayaosi Hit Goals and Assists
It was a sensational Saturday for Nigerian footballers across Europe as Gift Orban, David Okereke, Victor Olatunji, and Emmanuel Ayaosi all delivered match-defining performances for their respective clubs.
From high-stakes comeback wins in Turkey and dominance in Italy to breath-taking late rescues in Belgium and the Czech Republic, the Nigerian contingency proved unstoppable.
Gift Orban Drives Amed Sportif to Top of Super Lig with Masterclass Comeback
In Turkey, Gift Orban delivered yet another talismanic performance, scoring a crucial goal and providing an assist to spark Amed Sportif’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Samsunspor at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadyumu.
After going behind early to a Logi Tómasson goal, Amedspor found themselves in a chaotic, physical encounter that featured two red cards—one for Samsunspor’s Afonso Sousa in the 37th minute and another for Amedspor’s Mbaye Diagne in the 61st.
With both teams down to 10 men, Orban stepped up in the 73rd minute to convert a high-pressure penalty, restoring parity.
Just ten minutes later, the 24-year-old forward turned provider, picking out Dia Saba, who unleashed a brilliant strike from the edge of the box to complete the 2-1 comeback.
The Hoffenheim loan star now boasts an astonishing 11 goal contributions (8 goals, 3 assists) in just 9 Super Lig appearances.
His heroics temporarily send Amedspor to the top of the table with 20 points as they prepare to face Eyüpspor next.
David Okereke Steals the Show in Benevento’s Serie B Rout
Over in Italy, 29-year-old forward David Okereke put on a individual masterclass, directly participating in all three goals during Benevento Calcio’s dominant 3-0 victory over SS Arezzo.
Okereke set the tone four minutes into the second half when his lead-up play set up Antonis Siatounis for the opener—a goal awarded after a VAR review.
Okereke then got on the scoresheet himself in the 66th minute, burying a precise finish past the near post. He capped off his dominant night in the 87th minute by setting up Guglielmo Mignani to lock in the 3-0 result.
Earning a near-perfect 9.4 match rating and the Man of the Match award, Okereke recorded 57 touches and created four major chances.
With 5 goal contributions in 7 league outings, Okereke has fueled Benevento’s five-match unbeaten streak, lifting them to 5th place in Serie B.
Victor Olatunji Comes Off the Bench to Rescue Beveren in 8-Goal Thriller
The most dramatic performance of the night belonged to Victor Olatunji, who netted a heroic late brace off the bench to earn SK Beveren a 4-4 draw against KVC Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League.
Introduced in the 65th minute while trailing 3-2, the 27-year-old forward—on loan from MLS side Real Salt Lake—equalized in the 88th minute with a clever backheel finish.
Westerlo thought they had sealed all three points when Shunsuke Saito converted a 97th-minute penalty, but Olatunji had the final say.
Deep into stoppage time (102nd minute), Olatunji rose highest to head home an incredible equalizer, stunning the home crowd and snapping Beveren’s three-match losing streak.
Olatunji earned the Man of the Match award and brought his tally to 3 goals in 3 appearances for the club since arriving.
Emmanuel Ayaosi Delivers Crucial Assist for Slavia Prague
In the Czech First League, 21-year-old Super Eagles prospect Emmanuel Ayaosi continued his fine form, coming through with a game-saving assist as defending champions SK Slavia Prague salvaged a 1-1 draw against Mladá Boleslav.
Trailing 1-0 for most of the match, Slavia Prague turned to Ayaosi’s brilliance on the right flank in the 86th minute.
The youngster delivered a pinpoint cross into the box for Mojmír Chytil to slot home, earning the hosts a vital point and keeping them seven points clear at the top of the table.
Ayaosi earned an impressive 8.8 match rating, bringing his total contributions to 7 (4 goals, 3 assists) in 14 matches across all competitions this season.
The match also saw heavy Nigerian involvement, with Samuel Isife starting, Mubarak Suleiman coming on at half-time, and David Moses orchestrating the build-up play for the equalising goal.
Slavia Prague now turn their focus to Tuesday’s Czech Cup clash against FC Zbrojovka Brno.
