Iheanacho scores ninth league goal in seventh straight game

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Nigerian players abroad delivered mixed fortunes over the weekend, with Kelechi Iheanacho continuing his remarkable scoring run in Turkey, while Taiwo Awoniyi endured a difficult outing in England after receiving his first Premier League red card. ABIODUN ADEWALE reports

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TURKEY

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Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor)

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There appears to be no stopping Kelechi Iheanacho in the Turkish first division, with the 29-year-old continuing his remarkable scoring run with his ninth league goal of the season.

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Iheanacho was on target again for Bursaspor on Sunday in their 2-2 home draw against Erokspor.

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The Nigerian opened the scoring for the hosts in the 16th minute, finding the net for a seventh consecutive league game.

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Iheanacho joined Bursaspor in the summer following a successful spell at Celtic, where he helped the Scottish giants win a domestic double. He opted for Turkey after contract negotiations with Celtic stalled.

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BELGIUM

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Rafiu Durosinmi (Genk)

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After missing out last week, Rafiu Durosinmi returned to the scoresheet on Sunday, scoring for Genk in their 1-1 home draw against Gent.

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The Nigerian levelled the score before half-time after the visitors had taken an early lead.

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He now has five goals in six league games since joining Genk this summer.

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CZECH REPUBLIC

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Linus Zika (Sparta Prague B)

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Sporting Lagos product Linus Zika wasted no time making his mark in the Czech Republic, scoring twice in Sparta Prague B’s 4-1 victory over Bohemians.

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The 18-year-old came on as a second-half substitute and made a telling impact in just 19 minutes, scoring twice in his second appearance since arriving at the club last month.

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ENGLAND

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Awoniyi, Onyeka (Coventry)

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Taiwo Awoniyi was sent off for an elbow on Maxim De Cuyper during Coventry’s 5-0 home thrashing by Brighton on Sunday.

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With Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues 2-0 down to goals from Charalampos Kostoulas and Malick Yalcouye, matters went from bad to worse when Awoniyi was shown a straight red card eight minutes into the second half for violent conduct after catching De Cuyper in the face while challenging for an aerial ball.

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Referee Tony Harrington immediately reached for his red card, with replays showing Awoniyi made clear contact with his arm.

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VAR checked and upheld Harrington’s on-field decision. The Premier League Match Centre later revealed the conversation between the officials, with Harrington’s assistant observing: “He has caught him in his face with his elbow.”

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Awoniyi now faces a three-match ban — the standard punishment for violent conduct — meaning he is set to miss Coventry’s trip to his former club Nottingham Forest next Saturday, Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa and the Premier League meeting with Newcastle after the international break.

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His compatriot, Frank Onyeka, was also substituted in the 73rd minute after appearing to sustain an injury. It was his second Premier League start of the season.

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Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Women)

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Nnadozie is still waiting for her first clean sheet of the season after conceding twice in Brighton’s 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

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The result gave Brighton their first point of the season after they lost at home to Arsenal last week.

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ITALY

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Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Monza)

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Ebenezer Akinsanmiro continues to accumulate Serie A experience at Monza, featuring for 84 minutes in their 3-2 defeat at Lecce.

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The former Remo Stars Academy player has now made 28 appearances in the Italian top flight.

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GERMANY

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Terem Moffi (Hamburg)

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Terem Moffi lasted 45 minutes on the pitch but was unable to make an impact as Hamburg suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Leipzig.

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The club were also hammered 5-0 at home by Mainz last week and are now winless in their last three games, with Moffi, who joined them during the transfer window, still trying to find his feet in Germany.

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SPAIN

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Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid)

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In the absence of Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman started up front alongside Kang-in Lee in a 4-4-2 formation as Atletico Madrid visited Real Sociedad on Sunday.

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Lookman had scored once in five games before Sunday’s encounter and was looking to add to his tally as he continues to settle into life at the Spanish club.

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SCOTLAND

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Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers)

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Despite recent criticism, Emmanuel Fernandez put in another 90-minute shift for Rangers as they defeated Celtic 3-0 in the Old Firm derby on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup.

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