Nigerians in Europe football performance sees Lookman, Awoniyi and Ajibade deliver standout displays across top leagues

Nigerian internationals led by Ademola Lookman delivered standout performances across Europe on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with decisive contributions in Spain, England, France and beyond.

Also read: Bayern Munich Crush Union Berlin as Kane Nears Bundesliga Record

In Spain, Lookman continued his impressive form for Atletico Madrid, scoring the opener in the 33rd minute of a fiercely contested Madrid derby.

The forward has now recorded five goals and six assists since his winter move, underlining his growing influence.

In England, Taiwo Awoniyi capped a dominant display for Nottingham Forest with a late goal in a commanding 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Fellow Nigerian Ola Aina also featured as Forest strengthened their position with a clinical performance.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie impressed for Brighton Women, making crucial saves to secure a goalless draw against Liverpool Women.

The clean sheet marked her fifth of the season, reinforcing her reliability between the posts.

In France, Rasheedat Ajibade came off the bench to score the decisive goal for Paris Saint-Germain Women in a thrilling 3-2 win over Montpellier. Jennifer Echegini also featured prominently, playing the full match on her birthday.

Meanwhile, Moses Simon delivered an influential performance for Paris FC in their hard-fought 3-2 victory over Le Havre AC, boosting their survival push.

In Italy, it was a mixed outing for Nigerian players. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro featured as Pisa SC suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Como 1907, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru played a key role in SS Lazio’s 2-0 win over Bologna FC to boost their European hopes.

Forward Gift Orban was unable to find the net as Hellas Verona fell 1-0 to Atalanta BC, despite his persistent attacking efforts.

Elsewhere, Peter Olayinka featured for APOEL FC, while Cyriel Dessers remained sidelined with injury for Panathinaikos.

Defender Bruno Onyemaechi returned to action for Olympiacos after suspension.

In Scotland, Kelechi Iheanacho returned to the starting line-up for Celtic FC but could not prevent a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United, as he continues to seek consistency following injury setbacks.

Also read: Bayern Munich Crush Union Berlin as Kane Nears Bundesliga Record

The weekend performances highlight the growing impact of Nigerian players across Europe, with several delivering decisive moments for their clubs in what proved a compelling round of fixtures.