Nigerian Footballers in Europe: Onuachu Shares Golden Boot

• Lookman on target as Onyedike nears league title

As the season winds down across Europe, Nigerian players continue to make their mark in the race for individual and team honours, with several Super Eagles stars delivering decisive performances for their clubs. ABIODUN ADEWALE writes

SPAIN

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (ATLETICO MADRID)

After powering Atletico Madrid into next season’s Champions League last week, Lookman scored in back-to-back La Liga games for the first time on Sunday to help his club beat Girona 1-0 and take his tally to four goals in 11 games.

Since joining from Atalanta in February, Lookman has had a huge impact at Atletico, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League as well as the final of the Copa del Rey.

SADIQ UMAR (VALENCIA)

Now thriving at Valencia, Sadiq featured for 17 minutes against his former club as Valencia recorded a thrilling 4-3 win over Real Sociedad at the Anoeta Stadium.

Sadiq joined Valencia on a permanent deal in the summer after an initial loan spell from Sociedad last season. Since arriving, he has flourished, scoring four league goals and providing two assists in 19 games.

AKOR ADAMS, CHIDERA EJUKE (SEVILLA)

With 10 La Liga goals this season, Akor Adams was out to add to his tally in a high-profile fixture against Real Madrid, but the Nigerian failed to score despite playing the entire 90 minutes in Sevilla’s 1-0 defeat to Los Blancos.

His compatriot, Chidera Ejuke, played 37 minutes in the defeat.

TURKEY

PAUL ONUACHU (TRABZONSPOR)

After going on a 10-game scoring streak and taking his Super Lig tally to 22 goals this season, Onuachu slowed down in the closing stages of the campaign and saw his tally matched by Istanbul Basaksehir and Uzbekistan forward Eldor Shomurodov.

Shomurodov scored his 22nd goal on Saturday to draw level with Onuachu, but the Nigerian striker could not respond in his final game of the season, firing blanks for the seventh consecutive match as Trabzonspor were thrashed 3-0 at home by Genclerbirligi.

The Nigerian missed the chance to become the outright top scorer in the Turkish top flight, sharing the Golden Boot with Shomurodov, who enjoyed a resurgence this season. While Shomurodov scored his 22 goals in 34 games, Onuachu needed just 29 matches to reach the same tally.

ENGLAND

TAIWO AWONIYI, OLA AINA (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

With the season nearing its end, Taiwo Awoniyi continues to rack up minutes for Nottingham Forest, featuring for 21 minutes in their nervy 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He had started Forest’s previous two games, scoring a brace against Chelsea. The striker has now played 16 league games this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

For Ola Aina, he remains sidelined with another injury and could be doubtful for the Super Eagles ahead of the Unity Cup and the international friendlies in June.

Despite the defeat, Forest remain safe from relegation in the Premier League with 43 points from 37 games.

TOLU AROKODARE (WOLVES)

Wolves are set for relegation to the Championship next season, but it remains unclear whether the Nigerian striker will stay with the club.

Arokodare made his 32nd Premier League appearance on Sunday in Wolves’ 1-1 home draw against Fulham. He has recorded three goals and one assist in the league this season.

ITALY

FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (LAZIO)

After sitting out Lazio’s Coppa Italia final defeat to Inter, Dele-Bashiru started from the bench on Sunday as Roma inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Lazio in the Rome derby.

The Nigerian midfielder played 29 minutes in the fierce encounter, which saw players sent off for both teams.

The midfielder is yet to score this season and has one game left to change that next weekend.

RAFIU DUROSINMI, EBENEZER AKINSANMIRO (PISA)

Pisa are already relegated back to Serie B, but Ebenezer Akinsanmiro continues to get minutes in the top flight.

He played 61 minutes in their 3-0 home defeat to Napoli on Sunday, while Rafiu Durosinmi sat out the game amid transfer speculation linking him with a move away from the club barely six months after joining.

MADUKA OKOYE (UDINESE)

Okoye recently became the first Nigerian goalkeeper since the legendary Vincent Enyeama to record 10 clean sheets in a single campaign in one of Europe’s top five leagues, ending an 11-year wait with a commanding display as Udinese beat Cagliari 2-0 last week.

However, he could not extend that run to 11 clean sheets on Sunday in their match against Cremonese.

The Nigerian goalkeeper was beaten as early as the ninth minute by former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy.

BELGIUM

RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA (CLUB BRUGGE)

Onyedika played only 16 minutes, but rumours of a possible exit did not stop him from sharing in the celebrations as Club Brugge moved closer to another league title with a 5-0 win over last season’s champions, Royale Union SG, on Sunday.

Brugge were one point ahead of Union before the game at the Jan Breydelstadion and extended their lead to four points with two games left this season.

Onyedika has played 30 league games this season, scoring one goal.

Up next for Brugge is a trip to Mechelen before their last game at home to Gent.