Europa, Conference League RD16 playoffs : Bassey, Simon, & Orban in action
As Ugboh only makes the bench
The Europa League and Conference first-leg playoffs were concluded on Thursday and a total of four Nigerian players were listed for the games.
Only three of the players ended up playing, while one was an unused substitute. In fact, only two of the three players who played actually started the game.
In this article, SportsRation gives a review of these Nigerian players.
Europa League Playoff
Calvin Bassey – Ajax 0-0 Union Berlin
Calvin Bassey got his first start for Ajax in five games. The Super Eagles defender was solid as the struggling Dutch champions were forced to a goalless draw.
The former Rangers defender who has been the subject of heavy criticism from former Ajax players like Rafael van der Vaart played solid on Thursday.
Hopefully, he would have done enough to regain his starting place for the perennial Dutch champions.
Bassey who has been played as a left-back played in the central defense role on Thursday.
Calvin Bassey v Union Berlin
92% successful passes (103/112)
75% of duels won
0 dribbles suffered
7 releases 🛡️
100% successful tackles
Moses Simon – Juventus 1-1 Nantes
Moses Simon had a cameo as Nantes secured an important 1-1 draw away at Turin against the mighty Juventus.
Juventus dominated from the start to the end at the Allianz Stadium but the dodged Rennes returned to France with a point.
Dusan Vlahovic tapped home after 13 minutes to put Juventus in front but his goal was canceled out by Ludovic Blas’s second-half counter-attack finish.
Moses Simon who had been out of Nantes’ last three games prior to the Juventus class due to injury also played in the last 15 minutes of the game.
Mark Ugboh – Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Midtjylland
The little-known Nigerian goalkeeper was an unused substitute.
Europa Conference League playoff
Orban Gift – Qarabag 1-0 Gent
Gent’s two-goal hero Orban Gift was on the pitch from beginning to end as Gent suffered a 1-0 at Qarabag.
Orban Gift will be hoping to help his team win to secure a place in the Europa Conference League last 16.
