Gifted Markson
As the European football season draws to a close, several Nigerian Super Eagles players have delivered outstanding performances and clinched trophies with their respective clubs across Europe.
Here’s a look at some of the standout achievers.
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella – Bayer Leverkusen
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella enjoyed a stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen, who triumphed in both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, remaining unbeaten. Boniface emerged as the highest goal scorer across all competitions with 19 goals and 9 assists in 31 games. Tella also contributed significantly, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists in 35 games.
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Ademola Lookman had a remarkable season with Atalanta in Italy. The club finished fourth in Serie A, were runners-up in the Coppa Italia, and won the Europa League for the first time in their history. Lookman’s standout performance included a hat-trick in the Europa League final and a goal against Torino on Sunday. He ended the season with 16 goals and 8 assists in 44 games across all competitions.
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho – Leicester City
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho played crucial roles in Leicester City’s successful campaign in the Sky Bet Championship. Their efforts helped the club secure promotion back to the English Premier League. Both players were instrumental in the team’s success this season.
William Troost-Ekong – PAOK Thessaloniki
Despite missing the final stages of the season due to injuries, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was vital in PAOK Thessaloniki’s Greek league title win. His contributions early in the season were pivotal to the club’s success.
Raphael Onyedika – Club Brugge
Raphael Onyedika celebrated a successful season with Club Brugge, winning the Belgian Pro League title. The 23-year-old midfielder scored 3 goals in 30 league games, showcasing his importance to the team.
Victor Osimhen – Napoli
Victor Osimhen had another impressive season with Napoli, scoring 15 goals and providing 3 assists. His performances earned him a spot in the Serie A Team of the Season for the second consecutive year.
Peter Olayinka – Red Star Belgrade
Peter Olayinka had a standout first season with Red Star Belgrade, winning both the league title and the league cup. The 28-year-old striker scored 11 goals and provided 4 assists in 35 league games.
Terem Moffi – OGC Nice
Terem Moffi delivered a strong season for OGC Nice in France. Despite the club finishing fifth in Ligue 1, Moffi was their top scorer with 11 goals and 2 assists.
Other Notable Performances
Several other Super Eagles players had notable performances this season. Frank Onyeka shone for Brentford, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey made significant contributions to Fulham, Taiwo Awoniyi impressed for Nottingham Forest, Maduka Okoye played a key role at Udinese, Samuel Chukwueze performed well for AC Milan, and Paul Onuachu had a successful stint at Trabzonspor.
The achievements of these Super Eagles players highlight the growing influence of Nigerian talent in European football, promising even more exciting seasons ahead.