Nigeria’s new generation of deadly strikers
A number of Nigerian strikers have ripped Europe to shreds this season for their respective clubs, with the likes of Terem Moffi, Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Simy Nwankwo, and Kelechi Iheanacho all featuring on this list. These strikers have made themselves into some of Europe’s most feared with their performances this season for their clubs.
1) Terem Moffi:
Moffi is a 21-year-old Calabar born left-footed striker who plies his trade with FC Lorient in the French Ligue 1, having joined the French side from Belgian Jupiter League side KV Kortrijk for a fee of around 8 million Euros. Moffi has found the net 16 times in all competitions for Lorient, with 14 of those coming in the Ligue 1, including a winner against Paris Saint German and goals against Monaco and Olympique Marshall.
The striker, whose father was a professional goalkeeper in Nigeria with the Enugu Rangers narrowly missed out on a call-up to the Super Eagles set up in March, having been placed on the standby list, but his form for his French side may force Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to hand him his debut call-uo to the Super Eagles.
2) Victor Osimhen:
Osimhen had a rocky start to his career in the Italian Serie A with SSC Napoli following his African record transfer from LOSC Lille in the French Ligue 1.
The 22-year-old striker has scored 7 goals this season for Napoli, with 4 of those goals coming in his last 6 appearances for the club.
Osimhen is used to having setbacks in his career and overcoming them, after the setbacks he faced at the very beginning of his sojourn in Europe with VFL Wolfsburg. He has established himself as the Super Eagles first choice striker and looks like doing the same in the Napoli side.
3) Paul Onuachu:
KRC Genk forward, Onuachu is the highest goal-scoring Nigerian in Europe this season, with his tally of 31 strikes yet to be bettered by any Nigerian this season.
The giant striker who plays in the Belgian Jupiler League also scored twice in two appearances for the Super Eagles in March against Benin Republic and Lesotho. With his current form, he is widely tipped to make a move to one of Europe’s top 5 Leagues next season.
4) Simy Nwankwo:
Long-limbed and lanky, Simy Nwankwo has scored the most goals in the Italian Serie A in 2021, more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.
Most surprisingly, his goals have come for the worst side in the league, Crotone. His 19 goals this season in the Serie A makes the highest scoring Nigerian ever in a single campaign of any of Europe’s top 5 Leagues.
The lanky striker has however not been able to force himself into contention on the Super Eagles scene, only making a single appearance for the Super Eagles back in 2018. His form has left him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku on the Serie A goalscoring charts this season.
5) Kelechi Iheanacho:
Seniorman Kelz has scored 17 times this season for Leicester City, with 12 of those goals coming in his last 9 matches for the club.
The striker has come up clutch for the Foxes as they aim to reach the Champions League. He has scored the second-most goals in the English Premier League in 2021 and has scored the most goals for Leicester City this season.
Performances this season from Nigerian strikers have shown that the era where Nigerian strikers were in the news for their off-the-pitch activities such as play online casino, and nightclub visits are well behind us.
These crops of Nigerian strikers are surely ready to bring glory back to the Super Eagles.