The European leagues are well known for its top-notch organization, and the qualities of players that turn out for every team, despite the avalanche of stars and qualities for all of this clubs, Nigerian players were able to hold their own irrespective of the big stars in their respective teams.
Today we take a look at Nigerian footballers who are doing well for their respective clubs, and how they’ve been able to upsurge some of the big stars in respective clubs.
Victor Osimhen – Lille
The Nigerian forward, Osimhen continued his form in front of goal last weekend when he scored against Marseille, Victor was brought in by Lille from Belgium to serve as a backup striker for the French side and also as a supporting cast to Loic Remy, but the young forward got his chance when Remy was injured and since then he hasn’t looked back.
Osimhen nets his 13th goal of the season for Lille, but his goal couldn’t help his team avoid defeat against Marseille as the match ended in favor of Javi Garcia led side.
Osimhen has scored a total of 13 goals so far in this season in Ligue 1, and 18 goals in all competitions which placed him as an important player in the team and in the top scorer list.
Moses Simon – Nantes
Simon winning the best Nantes Player of the Month for October last year beating Algeria international Mehdi Abeid to the prize, and also winning Nantes mid-season-best goal award for his headed goal against OGC Nice in January was a testament to the brilliant form the Nigerian is in at the moment.
The Levante loanee won a total of 31.7% of fans vote to pick the award, and Simon has scored five goals and recorded five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions for Nantes this season before now, the winger now has 10 assist 10 goals in 22 outings for Nantes in the Ligue 1 this season.
Simon continued his impressive form in front of goal in Ligue 1 this season against Nimes in a match that ended in a draw, he would hope to continue this form in subsequent matches this season.
Anthony Nwakaeme – Trabzonspor
Nwakaeme has been in superb scoring form this season, as the forward lead a host of other Super Eagles stars who inform for their respective European clubs.
Since the 30 years old joined the Turkish outfit, he has played over 71 matches and scored 22 goals, but in this current season, Nwakaeme has scored 11 goals and 7 assist with over 3246 minutes played on the pitch.
The Nigerian average a shots of 0.31 goals per game in club competitions, last season his average was 0.3 goals per game, he scored 12 goals in 40 matches, meanwhile, in this season for Trabzonspor, Nwakaeme has a total of 65 shots, of which 25 were shots on goal and his passes completed were 77 percent and also the man of the match last weekend.
He surely deserves a Super Eagles call-up next month when international football returns for the new year, however, it would be difficult for him to dispose of Osimhen.
William Troost-Ekong – Udinese
So far this season the Nigerian has featured in over 23 matches for Udinese, although his club hasn’t been firing from all cylinders, however, Ekong has to be able to put in a good shift at the back.
Ekong will hope to continue in this great form that has got him this far in the backline of the Italian outfit when the national assignment comes calling.
Kenneth Omeruo – Leganes
There was a scare at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia when Kenneth Omeruo suffered what looked like a serious injury when he collided with a player.
Omeruo has always been the only Nigerian on the pitch almost all the time for Leganes who has been playing regularly for Leganes despite having a fellow Nigerian Awaziem in the team who hasn’t have much playing time in the team.
The Nigerian defender will hope to continue in this form when he returns back for the National assignment when the Afcon qualifier returns.
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Samuel Chukwueze – Villarreal
The Nigerian has been in firing form this season, which has led to big clubs in Europe looking to sign him if he continues with that form he might move to a bigger club in Europe come next season.
Chukuwueze enjoyed a cameo for Villarreal, against Valladolid as they earned a point at Real Valladolid after a 1-1 draw with the Madrid based side.
Chukwueze was a 72-minute in that match and a 76th-minute substitute in their win against Levante last weekend, in that match he hardly had enough time to influence the game, though he created a chance and key pass for his team.
Shehu Abdullahi – Bursaspor
Abdullahi scored an incredible solo goal as Bursaspor defeated their hosts Osmanlispor two weekend ago, and he was also in full action last weekend when his side hosted Adana Demirspor, and the Nigerian right back shunned like a million star in the match, Abdullahi has been in top form for the Turkish outfit so far this season.
Abdullah who played from midfield in recent time for his club continues to make a case for himself in other to get an invite from the national team manager, as his continue to push for a swift return to the Turkish top flight following their relegation last season.
He will want to leverage on this great form he has found himself going forward into the season and hopefully for a national call up if he found favor with the Eagles manager critically with the AFCON qualifier very much around the corner.
Joe Aribo – Rangers
The newfound Nigerian midfield maestro Aribo helped Rangers qualify for the next round of the Scottish FA Cup two weekends ago scoring the second goal of the day for his club.
Aribo has to be a key figure in Steven Gerrard’s team this season as he continues to justify why he was brought in into from England.
As expected, Aribo should get his place in the National Team when the Afcon qualifier against Sierra Leone comes to town.
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Semi Ajayi – West Brom
It was business as usual in the Championship for Semi Ajayi as he helped his team, West Brom, once again to a clean sheet two weekends ago also, and he has continued to prove how important he is to the team.
The Baggies are back at the top of the table after a victory over Millwall, and a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest last weekend to continue their quest for a fight into the EPL next season, Ajayi was very good for West Brom winning 100% of his tackles, 5 aerial duels, and one interception.
Ajayi’s form this season as being on a great ascendency, and it will take a miracle for Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, to ignore the in-form defender.
Daniel Adejo – Lamia
Adejo put up a decent performance while making his 18th appearance of the season in Lamia’s 1-1 draw against Panetolikos, their 3-2 lot Olympiacos and their 0-0 draw with Xanthi, so far this season the unknown Nigerian defender has scored just a goal, however, he has been a regular name at the back lines of Lamia.
Adejo this season has also recorded 0 assists, played over 2215 minutes, with 25 times in all games, with an average shot of 0.04 goals per game for club competitions meanwhile his last season stat was an average of 0.09 goals per game, and he scored 3 goals in 35 club matches.
The Nigerian will be expected to continue helping the team in the backline this weekend in their quest to climb up the ladder on the log in the Greek Super League this season.
