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Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has shifted his focus to their Eredivisie game against VVV-Venlo on March 9.

The shot-stopper made his 18th league appearance for the Red and White Gladiators against VVV-Venlo but despite his efforts, his side only managed to share the points in the encounter.

Laros Duarte opened the scoring for Sparta Rotterdam moments before the half-time break and they were on the verge of clinching all three points before conceding a late penalty, after Adil Auassar was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Michael de Leeuw then gave Okoye no chance when he fired his effort into the back of the net to ensure Dick Lukkien’s men avoided defeat.

The draw extended Sparta Rotterdam’s winless run to eight games, having last tasted victory against Fortuna Sittard on January 13.

The Nigeria international has taken to social media to express his frustration at his side’s failure to win the game.

“[I am] disappointed not to get all three points. We go again on Tuesday,” Okoye tweeted. 

Okoye teamed up with Sparta Rotterdam last summer from Fortuna Düsseldorf II and has made 18 league appearances for the club, keeping five clean sheets.

The Red-White Gladiators are currently 13th on the league table after gathering 24 points from 24 games.

Okoye has featured three times for the Nigeria national team and was recently named the team’s first-choice goalkeeper by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, ahead of Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and Matthew Yakubu.

“No. 1 is Maduka. These decisions, I take them with [goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu] because he is a specialist for goalkeeper training,” Rohr told ESPN.

"Myself and Alloy, we agreed that it's actually Maduka. We have the experienced [Daniel Akpeyi] doing good matches with this club in South Africa.

"We have the young [Francis Uzoho] coming back after injury, but he has to play also now not only on the bench. We have also [Matthew Yakubu].

"There's good potential now because this position was a big problem for us so we have more now."

Okoye will be expected to be in goal when Nigeria take on the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

Kampala Capital City Authority head coach Mike Mutebi has claimed his side are not yet a fully functioning team despite a 6-1 win over UPDF FC on Friday.

KCCA have managed to overcome previous struggles, have fought their way up and are now fourth with 23 points but Mutebi is far from being entirely impressed.

"We are still operating at 45 per cent but you could see the lads performed well with help of Gift Ali who was organising them," the coach said according to Sports Nation.

“We really dominated the game from start to the end and would have scored more than six goals and you could see all goals were constructed well, everyone was involved and I believe we improved on our ball circulation but of course we don’t forget how careless we can be when we conceded.

“Some times when we are performing well and the players in front of [goalkeeper] Charles Lukwago are using the ball very well, Lukwago tends to go to sleep.

“Overall I think UPDF gave us a good challenge with their experienced players but we were better in all departments.”

In addition, the experienced coach praised the effectiveness of his team, who have scored 36 goals in 12 games, and singled out his strikers for praise.

“I am impressed when my forwards are scoring that’s what I’m asking from them," he added. “We are supposed to score goals and there is no question we are starting to do exactly that.

“Our problem is we don’t take away as many chances but when we do, we look fantastic and I’m impressed with the strikers because they tried to do that."

He also spoke about the decision to feature Sadat Anaku, who earned a brace against the Soldiers despite recovering from an injury recently.

“We started the season when [Sadat] Anaku was having a hamstring injury yet he was my first choice centre forward," he added.

"But he is back and scoring goals and if he continues like that, we will have proper competition upfront.

“I rate him highly because if you look at his progress scoring over 83 goals in the junior team and he is indeed still my first choice.”

Ali was previously not available for Kasasiro Boys and the coach welcomed his return as they look to bridge the gap to with the top three sides.

“Ali’s addition to the team is massive," Mutebi concluded. "You can see he gives the team balance and we’ve been struggling in his absence.

“We have tried to play people there but no one matches him."

The next game for the Kasasiro Boys will be an away tie against Kyetume FC on Tuesday.

Marquinhos has rubbished suggestions that Kylian Mbappe functions better for Paris Saint-Germain when Neymar is absent.

Neymar has not featured for PSG since February 10 on account of a leg injury, and Mbappe took centre stage in the Brazilian’s absence when tormenting Barcelona in the Champions League six days later.

Mbappe produced one of the performances of his career to date in netting a hat-trick in the 4-1 win for PSG at Camp Nou , but Marquinhos feels the Frenchman is even better alongside Neymar.

What'a been said?

When asked by RTL if Mbappe is a better player without Neymar in the side, Marquinhos said: "No, we can not go into these stories. 

"I see people talking, but we have to stop with nonsense like that.

"We always want to have the best players with us. If you ask Kylian, I think he also prefers when he has Ney next to him. 

"Kylian was there and did the right thing [against Barcelona], but other players also had importance in this game. 

"When the team is playing well, that's when the individuals come out even more.

"It (the performance against Barca) boosted his confidence. Scoring three goals at Camp Nou is something very important for him and for us.

"Everyone has understood what he is capable of. We are here to help him as much as possible. He is a leader on the field with his personality and his qualities. He had an exceptional match."

The return of Neymar

The Brazil superstar was extremely low after picking up an injury against Caen in the Coupe de France, taking to Instagram to ask for protection from opposition players.

He has worked hard on his fitness over the past month and PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday that there was a chance Neymar could be in the squad to face Barcelona on Wednesday.

Neymar is eager to face his former club, and a place on the bench could be the likely option provided the 29-year-old trains well over the next few days.

Further reading

Express FC head coach Wasswa Bbosa believes congested fixtures are taking a toll on players and affecting their productivity.

Most teams in the Ugandan Premier League have been playing two games on average every week. The tactician has now raised his concern about the way the games are played.

"We have managed to win. That is the most important thing but when you look at the fixtures, it is too congested," Bbosa said after leading his team to a 1-0 win over Busoga United at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium on Friday.

"We are playing every two days, now like today, we surely did not play well because the truth is the players are fatigued.  

"These players are not machines, they are also human beings and because they are tired, that is why the game today was too slow but I am satisfied with the result."  

A couple of days ago, the Uganda People's Defence Force FC coach Kefa Kisala also expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the fixtures have been planned.

"When you look at the way our league fixtures have been organised, it is unreal. There is nearly no time for necessary player recovery between games; it is absurd," the tactician stated.

"Players deserve adequate rest between games, but we played on Saturday and then on Tuesday while we also have another game on Friday.

"It is challenging for us coaches to properly manage the load on our players and like you have seen players are starting to run out of gas and that kills the level and competitiveness of the games."

On Friday, the administrative side suffered an embarrassing 6-1 loss to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC. 

Sadat Anaku's brace, an own goal by Bright Vuni, Ashraf Mugume's strike, and a double from Charles Lwanga were enough to hand Kasasiro Boys yet another big win in the league.

The Soldiers, who have struggled in the recent past, scored the only goal via Brian Kayanja.

The win was enough for KCCA to move to fourth and they have now scored 14 goals in their last three games. UPDF are seventh with 18 points. 

Patrice Motsepe is expected be elected the new Caf president by acclamation following the latest withdrawal of another candidate, Ivorian Jacques Anouma, from the race.

This comes just after another hopeful, Senegal Football Federation boss Augustin Senghor, pulled his candidature to back Motsepe.

Ahmed Yahya who was another presidential hopeful, could join Anouma and Senghor in signing a pact to throw their weight behind Motsepe on Saturday in Nouakchott, Mauritania in the presence of Fifa president Gianni Infantino as per reports.

Anouma said his decision to pull out of the race was influenced by his belief that African football "cannot offer the world a face of division."

"After much reflection, inspired by the values of understanding and union that Ivory Coast has always promoted, convinced that it is better to create the conditions for a gathering of the best intelligence in order to make the collective interest of African soccer triumph, I decided to withdraw my candidacy," Anouma announced on Ivorian television station RTI.

"By achieving this sacred union of the best African wills around the Caf, with a common agenda, we can contribute together to its recovery. I will do so with the experience that is mine, always concerned about the interests of Ivory Coast and Africa.

"This is how I will put my unique experience of continental and world soccer at the service of the necessary reconstruction of African football and the upcoming organization of the Afcon 2023 in Cote d'Ivoire.

"I believe in a united, strong and respected Africa of football. Tomorrow, I will therefore do everything to win alongside the next leading team, resulting from the agreements, the crucial victory of the rebirth of Caf."

Following reported talks which took place last week, the deal in Nouakchott is set to see Senghor and Mauritanian Yahya assuming the roles of Caf first and second vice-president respectively.

Anouma is expected to exchange his candidature for the post of special advisor.

Caf elections are set for March 12 in Rabat, Morocco to elect the next man to succeed outgoing president Ahmad Ahmad whose tenure proved to be eventful but largely unsuccessful.

If the deal sails through, Mamelodi Sundowns owner Motsepe will become the first South African to head the continental football governing body.

For a second straight term, Motsepe would also become another Caf president from the Cosafa region to lead African football after Madagascan Ahmad.

Emiliano Martinez has revealed he left Arsenal due to a lack of trust shown in him by the club.

The Argentine goalkeeper came through the ranks at the Gunners after joining from Independiente in 2010 as a 17-year-old.

He spent spells on loan away from the club and eventually left for a permanent move to Aston Villa in the summer of 2020, revealing that he didn't feel the north Londoners deserved him.

What's been said?

"I love everything about Arsenal," Martinez told Sky Sports. "I still love them and I'm still watching the games, but I just felt like they didn't trust me like they should have.

"That's the reality because they kept buying goalkeepers to go in front of me and I was the goalkeeper from the academy.

"When I was on a high, I still felt like they didn't deserve me because of the way they were treating me. They couldn't guarantee me the games I needed so I thought that if they couldn't guarantee me the games I needed, then I'm moving on.

"They didn't say to me that I wasn't going to play, they just didn't guarantee me the games that I wanted to play.

"So, after 10 years, I decided to leave, and it was very difficult. My family didn't understand why I was leaving when I was at such a good level at Arsenal, but it was my decision to leave and I'm really proud I did it.

"It was a gamble, but I always believe that if you stay in the comfort zone, you will never reach anything in life. I decided to take the step up."

Martinez's aims at Villa

It could be argued Martinez was justified in making the move, as Aston Villa are two points ahead of Arsenal in the table and have a game in hand.

European football may be beyond them this term, but that is a target for the 28-year-old.

"When I signed for Villa, from day one I said it was a step up in my career and I want to qualify for Europe with the club," Martinez said. "I don't know if that is this season or next season, but that's something I really want to do.

"After the Sheffield United game, I saw a dressing room that is willing to fight. They didn't accept the loss, which is something that I really like. I saw disappointment because of trying to get into Europe and it is something that I'm starting to think, and the other players are starting to think could happen."

Villa face Wolves and Newcastle over the next seven days and positive results would keep them in the mix for European qualification.

Further reading

Simba SC have assured their fans they are ready to get their third win in the Caf Champions League when they face Al Merrikh on Saturday.

The Msimbazi giants will come up against the Sudanese outfit at Al Hilal Stadium seeking to make it three wins out of three having won their first two matches in the competition.

Al Merrikh started their campaign in the group with a 3-0 defeat against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in Cairo before they suffered a 4-1 defeat at home against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On the other hand, Simba started positively with a 1-0 away win against AS Vita before earning a 1-0 victory against Al Ahly at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam to move top of the group with maximum points.

Simba CEO Barbara Gonzalez, who was in the squad for Khartoum ahead of the fixture, has stated the team’s confidence is sky-high and they are ready to win the match and reach their target of getting out of the group stage for the first time in the club’s history.

“We are ready, we have prepared well. I arrived here earlier enough with an advance party which included two board members, and also the head of logistics, and we have been received well and everything is going on fine,” Gonzalez told Azam TV in Khartoum.

“We have done enough in terms of Covid-19 tests [which all returned negative] and picked a good training venue for the team and today [Friday] we have done our final preparations ahead of the match and the confidence of the players is sky-high, even the coach’s morale is very high, I have never seen our coach confident more than he is today.

“We have started a journey, and what we usually do, is we keep learning every time we are outside the country, we always learn how to improve the team, in terms of the squad, in terms of logistics when we travel out, and also prepare the team psychologically.

“We also listen to our players, we give them time to express themselves and if they feel something is not right, then we move quickly to rectify and make sure they are happy, Simba is in a learning process as we strive to reach our goals, we want to get out of the group stage and after that, we will see.”

Gonzalez continued: “We have done everything in and outside the venue, our trip to Khartoum was very smooth without any itches and we thank all those involved including the Tanzania Federation for making it a success, I think in terms of management, Simba are very fine.”

On what Simba targets this season, Gonzalez said: “When I joined Simba, they gave me three targets, take the team to the group stage of Champions League, win the FA Cup and also retain the league title.

“I have already attained one, we are in the group stage of the Champions League, but always when you succeed, you will want to succeed more, so we are targeting the remaining two.

“If you look at the technical bench we have invested all, we have also invested a lot on match analysis, that shows you how ready we are to see the team perform well, and I know we will play in the quarter-finals and even reach the semis, but playing in the final, only Gods knows.”

In the other group match, Al Ahly will host AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Cairo also on Saturday.

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to maintain their 100 percent Group B Caf Champions League record when they clash against Tout Puissant Mazembe at Stade TP Mazembe on Saturday.

After beating Al Hilal and CR Belouizdad in their first two games in this group, the Tshwane giants now face a stern test in Lubumbashi.

They come up against a Mazembe side second in this group after recording draws in their matches.

With four points separating Sundowns and the Ravens, Masandawana are guaranteed to remain at the top of this pool even if they suffer defeat.

That means Mazembe will remain in second spot even if they beat their South African opponents who are on the road for a second straight weekend after meeting Belouizdad in Tanzania.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

Earlier in the week, TP Mazembe announced that defender Godet Masengo and forward Isaac Tshibangu will not be available for Saturday’s clash due to injuries.

That is regarded as a blow for a side bidding for their first set of maximum points in this campaign.

However, they welcome back forward Chico Ushindi and Ugandan left-back Joseph Ochaya, who was an injury scare in last Sunday’s league match against Saint Eloi Lupopo.

No injury updates for this game have been issued from the Sundowns camp.

But striker Mauricio Affonso is a known absentee from a long-term injury.

He has, however, started light training but is still some way from regaining full fitness following surgery on his groin.

Images of regulars like Andile Jali, Mosa Lebusa, Gaston Sirino and Peter Shalulile fully participating in training at Stade TP Mazembe were posted on the club’s social media platforms.

Match Preview

This is a battle between former African champions, with Sundowns searching for a title since 2016, the only time they claimed this competition.

Five-time African champions Mazembe have now gone for six years without lifting the Champions League and would want to revive their bid on Saturday after recording 0-0 draws in this group so far.

Sundowns’ last outing was an away 5-1 hammering of Belouizdad in Dar es Salaam last Sunday.

The Brazilians have scored seven Champions League games in two games after also beating Al Hilal 2-0, while conceding just one and they now face a TP Mazembe side yet to score a single goal.

The last time the two sides met was in the 2017 Caf Super Cup final and Sundowns triumphed 1-0.

Two years earlier, Mazembe had beaten Sundowns 3-1 in Lubumbashi in a Champions League group stage match, while Masandawana won the home leg 1-0 in March 2015.

It is not much of a stretch to state that the most intriguing storyline in the Premier League, aside the increasingly ludicrous dominance of Manchester City at the top, centres on Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Seagulls are presently in 16th place, only three points above the relegation zone, but have managed to stir a conversation around the concept of Expected Goals that rages on still within the footballing punditocracy.

In truth, whether one agrees with the influence that statistical analysis now wields over footballing discourse, the eye test – that most unimpeachable of measure, if the stats-deniers are to be believed – bears out the data anyway. Graham Potter’s side have been struck with a severe case of goal-phobia, and are paying for it by coming away empty-handed from a number of encounters this season where they manifestly created the better, clearer scoring opportunities.

Their latest misadventure, a defeat at the Hawthorns, may have been aided in part by the ineptitude of referee Lee Mason, but it bore all the familiar hallmarks that have defined Brighton’s season: a glut of clear chances created (four, according to Opta), a deluge of shots (15, including a missed penalty), an inspired opposing goalkeeper and a sucker punch against the run of play to condemn them to defeat.

It would be easy, as many have, to train the spotlight on Neal Maupay, but in the Black Country it was Aaron Connolly missing an open goal, and Danny Welbeck only finding the woodwork from the spot.

The malaise, clearly, goes beyond just one man. It could also, ludicrous as the claim may seem, be solved by one man.

How hard of a sell this is comes down to just what one believes to be the talent level of South Africa international Percy Tau.

The 26-year-old has been on Brighton’s books since 2018, when the club snapped him up from Mamelodi Sundowns for around 3 million euros.

In the intervening period, he has been farmed out on a number of loans, all to Belgian clubs, as work permit issues kept him from making his debut. Only in January 2021 did he finally make his bow for the Seagulls, but after making four appearances inside the first month, he has only earned one more since.

South Africa national team coach Molefi Ntseki has quickly moved to allay notions of indiscipline on the part of the player, and insists his lack of playing time is indicative of the competition within the squad.

In fairness, Brighton do have a surfeit of tidy, technical attacking midfielders in the squad – Adam Lallana, Leandro Trossard, Pascal Gross and Alexis Mac Allister all come to mind – and so it is easy to see how a player taking his first steps in the Premier League might need time to settle and find himself in a sea of sameness.

It is a shame, though. Because, while not exactly a prolific goalscorer himself, Tau does have the tools to bring something different to the table for Brighton, and ameliorate their scoring difficulties.

While much of the analysis of Brighton’s bluntness in attack has simply concluded the club has the singular misfortune of recruiting subpar finishers, there is a minority of analysts that has begun to instead look at the type of chance the team overwhelmingly creates.

As football coaching has come to increasingly prioritize efficiency, there has been a rise in the use of cut-backs from (close to) the byline.

While these tend to result in higher quality chances, the data seems to suggest Brighton in particular are poor at converting precisely that sort of opportunity. So, perhaps the solution – albeit an unorthodox one – would be to change their preferred method of chance creation?

For one thing, fielding a 4-4-2 and looking to play quicker into space, while more speculative, would not only provide opponents with a different look, but might actually get the best out of their roster of strikers. Tau, with his movement into the channels and his eye for a through ball, would be the perfect candidate for the second striker role: able to drop off the front and link play, and also possessing the vision and technique to slip the striker in behind opposing defences.

It is arguably the sort of service that would better suit the pace of the likes of Connolly and Welbeck, both of whom make excellent runs, while also getting the best out of Tau in what is his most natural position. Maupay, while less rapid, would also benefit from having through balls to run onto in much the same way as he used to while at Brentford.

As part of a front two, Tau proved capable of excellent performances for Club Brugge, both domestically and in European competition. Turning to him now would be something of a Hail Mary, but it would be quite poetic if Brighton were to, in doing so, unearth the gem that was buried under their feet the whole time.

The UAE Pro League announced the nominations for the best player, best goalkeeper, and best coach awards for the month of February on Friday. 

In the best player category, Al Jazira's dynamic duo Ali Mabkhout and Thulani Serero lead the charge along with Shabab Al Ahli’s Carlos Eduardo, Ryan Mendes of Al Nasr, and Bani Yas’ Joao Pedro. 

The players were selected in light of their performance in February and their contribution to their team's progress in the UAE Arabian Gulf League. 

Mabkhout shone the brightest with nine goals and four assists in February. His rich vein of form propelled Al Jazira to the top of the pile. He has scored 17 goals this season and is leading the race for the Golden Boot as well. The UAE international has also been nominated by AFC (Asian Football Confederation) for the title of Player of the Month in the West Asian Leagues for February. 

He will be vying for the award along with some big names like former Arsenal player Santi Cazorla (Al Sadd), Argentina international Ever Banega (Al Shabab FC), former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis (Al-Hilal), Al-Riffa's Mohamed Marhoon, Muhammad Marmur (Tishreen), Hammadi Ahmed (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Khaldoun Al-Helman (Al-Khalil) and Ala Al-Din Daly (Al-Arabi).

His teammate, Serero, ably supported him from midfield and he has also been nominated for the best player award for helping his team resgister three wins and a draw. 

Shabab Al Ahli also remains unbeaten in February with three wins and one draw and currently stand fifth on the standings with 32 points and much credit will go to Eduardo who has four goals and one assist in February. 

Al Nasr's Mendes is one of the leading contenders for the gong as he scored three goals and completed the most number of dribbles in the league. At last but not the least is Bani Yas' Joao Pedro. He has scored in every appearance in February for his side and is third on the goal-scoring charts with 14 strikes. He is an instrumental figure on the pitch who chips in with important goals at crunch moments and is one of the reasons that Daniel Isaila's men are third in the league table. 

Whereas, for the best coach's award Al Jazira's Marcel Kaizer has been nominated for winning the top of the table clash against Sharjah FC and guiding his team to the top of the table. He is joined by Shabab Al Ahli coach Mahdi Ali and Al Wasl coach Odair Hellmann who remained unbeaten in the league in February. 

Meanwhile, in the best goalkeeper category,  Al Jazira’s Ali Khaseif has been nominated for keeping two clean sheets along with Al Nasr’s Ahmed Shambieh and Fahad Al Dhanhani of Bani Yas. 

Voting for the three categories has opened on Thursday at noon on the Arabian Gulf League website and continues for 72 hours. The winners will be announced through the official UAE PL social media channels.

A brave FC Goa matched Mumbai City's might in an exciting four-goal thriller which ended as a draw on Friday.

In the first leg of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL)  semi-final. Mumbai City started on the backfoot as Mohammed Rakip's injury and Amey Ranawade's suspension meant Sergio Lobera chose to play Mandar Rao Dessai at right-back. And it was the first move that went wrong for the league stage winners. 

Jorge Ortiz tormented Mumbai City's right flank at will and Mandar struggled to contain the winger. The full-back did not get off to a good start as his poor pass in the 17th minute put left-back Vignesh Dakshinamurthy chasing Alexander Jesuraj into the box. The winger was tripped just outside the box but Mumbai City escaped without a stoppage in play. 

Two minutes later, the stand-in right-back brought down Ortiz inside the box and this time, the referee had no qualms to award a stonewall penalty. Igor Angulo sent the keeper the wrong way to break the deadlock for the Gaurs. 

Mumbai then pushed hard to get back into the game. The early jolt helped them gather themselves in the midfield and the Islanders drew level before the first half ended. Hugo Boumous beat goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh with a neatly taken effort from the edge of the box after FC Goa players failed to clear the ball when they had the chance to do so during the build-up.

Seriton Fernandes had to be forced off the field due to an injury and Ferrando handed a debut to youngster Leander D'Cunha. Despite playing against a debutant for more than 45 minutes, the Islanders struggled to make the most of that situation. 

Instead, they allowed Goa to take the lead again after the break. In order to play both Ogbeche and Le Fondre together in the attack, Lobera had to sacrifice Hernan Santana in defence but this change meant that the Islanders looked more vulnerable than they usually do. The Mumbai defence backed off Saviour Gama as he ran at the defence and the full-back drove a low shot past Amrinder to score Goa's second of the night. 

But the celebrations didn't last long as an Ahmed Jahouh cross two minutes later put the Gaurs defence in sixes and sevens, allowing Mourtada Fall to easily head home to score an equaliser with no Gaurs player near him to put up an aerial challenge.

The contest swung from one end to another but Goa's resilient to hold Mumbai City deserved credit. They were not prepared to sit back and counter and instead tried to take on the Islanders. Mumbai City ended the game as the luckier side as Mourtada Fall's aggressive two-footed challenge on Princeton Rebello towards the end of the game escaped a red card. 

This would certainly add more resilience to their defence and pose more questions to Mumbai's backline given Noguera's nous for threading a key pass. For Mumbai, Amey Ranawade will return from suspension which would mean that they will be better placed to deal with Ortiz. Cy Goddard would certainly be an option for Lobera given that his deliveries from wide positions have been accurate.   

Samuel Chukwueze was in action as Villarreal lost 2-1 against Valencia in Friday’s La Liga game at Estadio Mestalla.

The Nigeria international made his second start for the Yellow Submarine and made his contribution in the encounter but his effort was enough to help his side avoid a defeat.

Chukwueze started in the midfield along with Moi Gomez, Daniel Parejo and Etienne Capoue behind forwards Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno.

The fleet-footed forward won the man-of-the-match in his last outing for Unai Emery‘s men against Atletico Madrid but struggled to build on the fine performance at Estadio Mestalla.

Both sides aimed for an early goal in the encounter but the goals did not come until the 40th minute when Gerard Moreno broke the deadlock, converting from the penalty spot.

With the game looking to end the way of Villarreal, Javi Gracia’s men stunned their visitors after coming from behind to secure all three points in the encounter.

Carlos Soler levelled proceedings for the Bats in the 86th minute, firing home his effort from the spot after Maximiliano Gomez was brought down in the area.

Goncalo Guedes then scored the all-important winning goal moments before the end of the game, dribbling past his markers before unleashing his strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.

Chukwueze featured for the duration of the game in his 26th appearance across all competitions this season.

The Nigeria international made one key pass, completed one dribble and had a 75 percent successful pass rate in the game.

Villarreal are now winless in their last two games which have seen them dropped to the seventh spot on the league table with 37 points from 26 games.

Chukwueze recently returned from Inguinal Hernia problems and has now scored two goals and provided five assists this season.

The forward has been delivering fine performances for Villarreal since his promotion to the first team in 2018.

The winger will hope to help his side return to winning ways when they take on Dynamo Kyiv in a Europa League game on March 11.

The21-year-old will be expected to be part of Gernot Rohr’s team that will take on the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Chukwueze has made 17 appearances for the Nigeria national team since he made his debut against Uganda in 2018.