It was another weekend of top-level performances from Nigerians across Europe. Here are the most outstanding picks of them all.
Paul Onuachu (Genk)
The 6ft7 striker at the moment doesn’t know when to stop scoring. It’s been a month since Onuachu opened his account for Genk in the Belgian First Division this season and there has simply been no turning back.
After netting eight goals in five matches, Onuachu took it up a notch last Friday when he banged in four goals against Royal Mouscron. His tally now stands at 12 goals in 13 league matches and there is no prediction of how far Onuachu can go. Whatever the case is, the Owerri born-player is clearly the man of the moment.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Like Onuachu, Osimhen is another Nigerian who simply can’t stop scoring. Napoli have been in fearless form in the Serie A this season and facing Atalanta was going to be a very big test.
A tough test it was as Luciano Spalletti’s men fell behind but triumphed 2-1 thanks to Osimhen’s 23rd-minute strike and his assist for Elif Elmas for the second. The victory solidifies Napoli’s lead at the top of the standings which is now 35 points, six clear of Milan, while Osimhen is now on eight goals from just nine league matches.
The 23-year-old has recorded 32 Serie A strikes which is the most for any Nigerian in the league, surpassing previous record holder and former Crotone man Simy Nwankwo (31) in the process.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Lookman is the other Nigerian who has consistently found the back of the net this season. Indeed, since netting his first goal for Atalanta against Fiorentina, the ex-RB Leipzig forward has only failed to net once.
He opened proceedings against Napoli from the penalty spot but the Campania outfit’s firepower was too strong for Atalanta to contain. It was their second league loss in three games having had an unbeaten start to the season.
Regardless of the setback, Atalanta remain in fourth spot, eight points from the top while Lookman has six goals in 13 Serie A outings, five of them coming in his last six appearances.
David Okereke (Cremonese)
The 25-year-old has been ever-present for Cremonese this season. Starting every single match alongside his compatriot Cyriel Dessers.
Newly promoted Cremonese have however not been able to churn out results as they would have liked but it hasn’t stopped Okereke from delivering the goods when necessary. The former Club Brugge man did so in Saturday’s 2-2 at Salernitana, equalising in the 12th minute after Krzysztof Piatek’s third-minute opener.
It was Okereke’s third Serie A goal of the season having scored against Fiorentina on the opening day of the season and against Inter Milan. Cremonese are still searching for their first win of the season and have drawn three of their last four league matches.
Terem Moffi (Lorient)
Another Nigerian forward that has been ever-present for his team this season and what a campaign he is turning out to have.
Moffi has simply been all about goals this term in Ligue 1 such that he is dragging the top scorer award with some of the league’s best in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. On Sunday, Moffi’s team faced Paris Saint-Germain and while some might have predicted an easy game for the French capital outfit, it turned out not to be so as PSG worked hard to earn a 2-1 win.
Neymar had given PSG a ninth minute that lasted until the 53rd minute when Moffi equalised. Danilo Pereira grabbed the winner nine minutes from time. Moffi has now registered nine goals in 13 Ligue 1 outings. He is only two goals shy of Mbappe and Neymar (11). The defeat means Lorient drop outside of the European places but are still in the hunt to finish within the available spots come the end of the season.
