Ezinne Kalu selected the top Nigerian playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Nigerians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Ezinne Kalu

   #1. This week's number one is former international guard Ezinne Kalu (173-1992, college: SSU, currently plays in Turkey). She could not help Kayseri (1-1) in their last game. Despite Kalu's very good performance Kayseri was badly defeated 89-70 on the road by the higher-ranked (#5) Hatay. She was the second best scorer with 20 points. Kalu also added 5 boards, dished 3 assists and stole 4 balls in 40 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only her first season in pro basketball. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Kalu has individually a very good year with high stats. She averages: 20.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.0apg, 3.0spg, 2FGP: 66.7%(12-18) in two games she played so far. Kalu has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American. She played for the Nigerian senior national team year ago.

Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (188-1997, college: Northwestern, currently plays in Italy). Kunaiyi-Akpanah led Faenza to a victory against the league outsider Valdarno (0-4) 80-68 in the Italian Serie A1 on Saturday night. She had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 17 rebounds. Kunaiyi-Akpanah also added 2 blocks in 29 minutes. E-Work Faenzais placed in the Serie A1. Kunaiyi-Akpanah has very impressive stats this year: 15.8ppg, 14.8rpg, 1.3bpg, 2FGP: 61.5%(24-39) and FT: 75.0% in four games. She played for the Nigerian national team in 22.

   #3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Murjanatu Musa (187-2000, currently plays in Spain). Musa was the major contributor in a Celta Zorka's victory against the tenth-ranked Ardoi (2-3) 75-64 in the Spanish LF Challenge (second division) in Saturday night's game. She recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 15 rebounds. Musa also added and 3 steals. Celta Zorka Recalvi Vigo (4-1) is placed third in the LF Challenge. It was her team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Musa has relatively good stats this year: 12.4ppg, 13.2rpg, 1.8apg, 3.2spg, 2FGP: 45.3% and FT: 57.9%. She played for the Nigerian national team year ago.

Atonye Nyingifa

   #4. Forward Atonye Nyingifa (183-1990, college: UCLA, currently plays in Turkey) contributed to an Antalya 07's victory against the league outsider Cankaya (0-3) 78-71 in the Turkish KBSL on Saturday night. Nyingifa scored 13 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists. It was her first game for Antalya 07 this season. Her team is placed tenth in the KBSL. Her team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. Nyingifa is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American. She used to play for the Nigerian national team back in 22.

Nicole Enabosi

   #5. Former international forward Nicole Enabosi (183-1997, college: Delaware, currently plays in France) was not able to help Chartres (5-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite her very good performance the league leader Chartres was badly defeated 82-63 at home by the second-ranked Feytiat. Enabosi was the top scorer with 17 points. She also added 6 rebounds. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This season Enabosi has relatively solid stats: 15.0ppg, 7.0rpg and 4.0spg. She has both American and Nigerian nationalities. Enabosi used to play for the Nigerian national team years ago.


The list of other players, who all have Nigerian passport but never been selected to any of Nigerian national teams:

   #1. Temi Fagbenle (193-F-1992, college: USC, currently plays in Turkey) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Botasspor Adana (1-1) 68-51 in the Turkish KBSL last Sunday. Fagbenle scored 8 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. CBK Mersin Yanisehir Belediyesi (2-0) is placed third in the KBSL. Her team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Fagbenle's overall stats this season are: 9.7ppg, 11.3rpg and 2.3spg. She has a dual citizenship: British and Nigerian.

   #2. Nneka Ezeigbo (188-C-1998, college: RMU, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Joventut (2-2) 76-57 in the Spanish LF Challenge (second division) last Saturday. Ezeigbo had a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 11 rebounds in 32 minutes. Recoletas Zamarat (3-2) is placed seventh in the LF Challenge. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Ezeigbo has relatively solid stats: 13.6ppg, 8.0rpg and 2.0spg in five games she played so far. She is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.

   #3. Adenike Olawuyi (189-C-2004, currently plays in Hungary) managed to help NKA Universitas PEAC Pecs in a victory against one of league's weakest teams BKG Prima (0-6) 78-67 in the Hungarian A Division in Friday night's game. Olawuyi scored only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 8 minutes on the court. NKA Universitas PEAC Pecs (6-0) is placed second in the A Division. So far her team won all six games in the Regular Season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Olawuyi's overall stats are: 0.4ppg and 2.4rpg in five games.


Other top Nigerian players, who play abroad:

Amy Okonkwo (188-F-1996) plays for M.Haifa in Israeli D1
Victoria Macaulay (193-F/C-1990) plays for Botasspor Adana in Turkish KBSL
Evelyn Akhator (190-F/C-1995) plays for Landes in French LFB
Uju Ugoka (185-C-1993) plays for Halle in German DBBL
Blessing Ejiofor (196-C) plays for CD Talent in Spanish LF2
Vivian Iwuchukwu (190-F) plays for Montverde Academy in the
Veronica Iweanya (181-F) plays for Bristol AF in British NBL D1

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Nigerian playing currently abroad. Go to Nigerian Abroad Page to see completed list.