Philip Otele and Echeta Deputy became the names on everyone’s lips as they delivered match-winning performances for their respective clubs in Europe and the Middle East.
When two Nigerian stars light up two different continents on the same night, you know something special has happened, Footballrover reports.
While fans are still buzzing from their exploits, here’s how it all unfolded in a thrilling night of football.
Philip Otele shines as FC Basel edge Grasshoppers in Swiss League
All eyes were on Philip Otele at the St. Jakob-Park as he led FC Basel to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Grasshoppers in a dramatic Swiss Super League clash on Thursday evening.
The visitors struck first through Dominik Schmid, who finished off a clever setup by former Premier League star Xherdan Shaqiri just 16 minutes into the game.
But FC Basel roared back before the halftime whistle, and it was Philip Otele who stole the spotlight.
The Nigerian winger found the back of the net five minutes before the break, doubling Basel’s lead.
Though Grasshoppers pulled one back in the 70th minute via a Giotto Morandi penalty, Otele’s goal proved to be the difference.
He exited the pitch after 74 minutes to a standing ovation, having now registered four goals and one assist in just 12 appearances this season.
The win marked Basel’s second straight victory after a 2-0 win over Winterthur.
Echeta Deputy delivers again to fire Zakho to victory in Iraq
Over in Iraq, Echeta Deputy continued his red-hot form in the Stars League with yet another impactful display for Zakho SC.
On Friday evening, the former NPFL forward scored the opener in their 2-0 win over Al-Shorta at the Zakho International Stadium.
Echeta Deputy needed just 21 minutes to put his side ahead, timing his run perfectly and finishing with confidence.
His goal stood as the decider until deep into stoppage time, when Amjad Attwan added a second to seal the win in the 97th minute.
With this strike, Deputy now has five goals this season, underlining his growing reputation in Iraqi football.
The ex-Rivers United man is quickly becoming a fan favourite and a reliable source of goals for Zakho.
From Switzerland to Iraq, Philip Otele and Echeta Deputy are proving that Nigerian talent travels well.
With both players hitting form at a crucial stage of the season, their journeys abroad are becoming must-watch stories.
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