Francis Uzoho posted a man-of-the-match performance tonight as Omonia Nicosia almost earned a draw at Manchester United.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper stood valiantly between Manchester United and goals at Old Trafford until two minutes into added time as the English club won the UEFA Europa League Group E clash 1-0.
Uzoho was making only his third appearance of the season and his first start in the Europa League as stand-in for injured first-choice goalkeeper Fabiano.
The Nigeria international did not play like an understudy though, pulling off 12 saves, including at least four magnificent ones against Marcus Rashford, before substitute Scott McTominay beat him with an unstoppable shot from close range.
Uzoho, who is a Manchester United fan, had vowed to ‘die there’ if he got to feature against his favourite club, and he was clearly the best player on the pitch, outshining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford.
The 23-year-old Nigerian will be proud of the part he played in Omonia’s defiant performance as the Cypriots remain pointless after recording their fourth defeat in four Europa League games.
Another Nigerian was also in fine form tonight in the Europa League, with Victor Boniface bagging a brace.
The 21-year-old former Nigeria youth international forward scored twice in Union Saint Gilloise’s 3-3 home draw with SC Braga in Group D.
Boniface has now scored three goals in four Europa League appearances for the Belgian side. He has also netted twice in eight Jupiler League matches since joining Union Saint Gilloise from Bodo/Glimt in August.
Also in the Europa League tonight, Super Eagles forward Moses Simon scored at the wrong end as Nantes were thrashed 4-0 at home by Freiburg.
The Nigeria international inadvertently put the ball in his own net in the 82nd minute for Freiburg’s third goal as struggling Nantes recorded their third straight defeat in Group G and are on the brink of elimination.
In other European matches tonight involving Nigerians, Samuel Chukwueze and Yusuf Otubanjo were in action as Villarreal and Pyunik recorded mixed results in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
While Chukwueze played 68 minutes of Villarreal’s 1-0 victory at Austria Wien, Otubanjo, who scored the Conference League goal of the week on matchday 2, lasted for 65 minutes in Pyunik’s 2-1 defeat at Zalgiris Vilnius.
Nigerian striker Kehinde Oyewusi assisted both goals for Zalgiris Vilnius as they earned their first win in Group H.
