Naija Stars Abroad: Chukwueze delivers stunner as Super Eagles defender goes from zero to hero

It was a weekend full of highs and dramatic turnarounds for Naija Stars Abroad, playing across top leagues in Europe and beyond.

Samuel Chukwueze was the inspiration for Fulham’s 1-0 Premier League win over Sunderland, delivering a sensational assist that clinched a late victory after coming off the bench as a super-sub.

In England’s Premier League, Chukwueze came off the bench in the 64th minute and immediately made his presence felt.

The dynamic winger curled a perfect cross into the box in the 84th minute, which Raul Jimenez headed home to secure Fulham’s fourth league win and lift the club to 14th place in the table.

His teammates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey also featured prominently, with Bassey completing the full 90 minutes and showing defensive solidity to help keep a clean sheet.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem completed a remarkable zero-to-hero performance in Ligue 1, redeeming a costly own goal with a stoppage-time equaliser.

In a dramatic night for the Nantes defender, he suffered a devastating blow with an own goal just before halftime, giving Lorient the lead.

Yet, Awaziem’s resilience shone through as he headed in a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time, rescuing a valuable 1-1 draw to keep Nantes clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye remained a bright spot in Udinese’s Serie A defeat by Bologna, producing a crucial penalty save and multiple stops to keep his side competitive.

Ademola Lookman battled through 82 minutes for Atalanta in a 3-1 loss to Napoli.

On the scoring front, little known Prosper Obah netted a double for LNZ Cherkasy in Ukraine, while Moses Usor scored his third goal of the season for LASK in Austria.

The Super Falcons also had a weekend to remember. Toni Payne played a key role in Everton Women’s gritty win at Gateshead. Danish striker Joy Omewa capped an incredible season with the winner for Fortuna Hjorring, reaching 21 goals and attracting interest from WSL clubs.

Jennifer Echegini continued her fine form with a late winner for Paris Saint-Germain, helping the club reclaim winning momentum after recent Champions League setbacks.

From stunning assists to heroic comebacks, this weekend highlighted the skill, character, and rising influence of Nigerian stars abroad as they continue to help their respective clubs reach their season goals.