Nigerian players made their presence felt across Europe  yesterday with Bamidele Yusuf, Wilfred Ndidi, Dessers and Toluwalase Arokodare among the goalscorers in the UEFA Europa League and Conference League.

Yusuf helped Hungarian side Ferencvaros maintain their perfect start in the Europa League,  Ndidi scored for Besiktas in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, Dessers netted twice for Panathinaikos, and Arokodare inspired Ajax to a late win over Atalanta.

Yusuf opened the scoring in the 20th minute as Ferencvaros beat Portuguese side Torreense 4-1. Manuel Pozo equalised three minutes later, but Mariano Gomez restored the lead in the 58th minute. Mohamed Diadie turned the ball into his own net in the 80th minute, and substitute Krisztian Lisztes completed the scoring in the 89th. Yusuf, who was booked in the 68th minute, was substituted in the 74th as Ferencvaros secured their third straight victory.

In Greece, Bayer Leverkusen beat OFI Crete 2-0, with midfielder Jonas Hofmann scoring both goals in the 35th and 38th minutes. Hofmann was added to the squad after Martin Terrier’s injury. Victor Boniface was unavailable because he had not been registered for the competition, while Nathan Tella replaced Patrik Schick in the 63rd minute. Leverkusen recorded a third consecutive win without conceding.

Tochukwu Nnadi was an unused substitute as Marseille lost 1-0 away to Sturm Graz. Oumar Diakite scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute, and it was the French club’s third consecutive defeat in the competition.

Samuel Chukwueze missed AC Milan’s trip to England with a hip injury as they lost 3-0 to Bournemouth. Justin Kluivert scored a penalty in the 8th minute, and Marcus Tavernier added another in the 32nd. Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan had been sent off in the 28th minute, and Amine Adli scored the third in the 84th. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also suffered an injury. Milan have three points from three matches.

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi scored for Besiktas just before half-time, having been booked in the 15th minute. Yeremy Pino equalised for Palace in the 51st minute, and Jean-Philippe Mateta put them ahead four minutes later. Junior Olaitan rescued a point for Besiktas in the 73rd minute. Besiktas’ winning run ended, though they remain unbeaten and moved to seven points. Palace, last season’s Conference League winners, were left to rue the lost lead.

Bruno Onyemaechi played 67 minutes as Olympiacos beat Sparta Prague 1-0 at home.

Dessers starred as Panathinaikos thrashed Kairat Almaty 5-1 in Kazakhstan. He scored a penalty in the 24th minute and added a second two minutes after the restart. Vicente Taborda had given the visitors an early lead in the 6th minute, Kings Kangwa made it four in the 57th, and Elmin Rastoder completed the rout in the 75th. Ismail Bekbolat scored Kairat’s consolation in the 79th. It was Panathinaikos’ second straight win.

Getafe lost 5-2 at home to Swiss side Lugano. Chrisantus Uche was unavailable as he continues recovering from a knee injury sustained at the start of pre-season.

Brighton drew 0-0 away to Jablonec, ending their six-match winning run. Yohanna Zadok and Femi Azeez were not in the matchday squad.

Trabzonspor beat Hearts 2-0 without Chibuike Nwaiwu and Paul Onuachu. Mohamed Salah scored a penalty in the 32nd minute, and Franculino Djú doubled the lead in the 58th from a move Salah created. Trabzonspor had 61 per cent possession and 11 shots to Hearts’ 10, but finished with ten men after Sidny Lopes Cabral was sent off in stoppage time for a second booking.

Arokodare’s late impact lifted Ajax to a 2-0 win over Atalanta. He broke the deadlock in the 87th minute and set up the second goal in the third minute of stoppage time. It was Ajax’s first win in the competition after two matches.