Nigerian footballers delivered standout performances across the globe over the weekend, with Paul Onuachu extending his remarkable scoring run in Turkey, while Alex Iwobi etched his name in Premier League history as the Nigerian player with the most topflight appearances.
Onuachu, who has rediscovered his form since joining Trabzonspor, struck again in his team’s 2–1 win over Rizespor.
The towering striker’s goal was his eighth in just nine matches, keeping him among the top scorers in the Turkish Süper Lig and placing him ahead of fellow Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman in goal contributions this season.
The former Southampton forward has now scored in four consecutive games, marking a stunning resurgence after a difficult spell in England. His consistency has made him one of Nigeria’s most in-form attackers in Europe.
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen had a quieter outing in Turkey, featuring for only 17 minutes in Galatasaray’s narrow 2–1 away victory against Başakşehir.
The reigning African Player of the Year, recently back from World Cup qualifier duties, was used sparingly as his team held on for the win. In Italy, Ademola Lookman came close to scoring for Atalanta in their Serie A clash with Lazio but was denied by the opposition’s defense.
In England, all eyes were on Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, who reached a major career milestone. By starting in Fulham’s match against his former club Arsenal, Iwobi made his 299th Premier League appearance — surpassing Shola Ameobi’s long-standing record of 298.
The achievement places Iwobi at the top of Nigeria’s all-time Premier League appearance chart, ahead of legends like Ameobi and Nwankwo Kanu, who made 273 appearances. Although Fulham fell to defeat against Arsenal, the occasion marked a historic moment for the 28-year-old midfielder.
Elsewhere, Nigerian players in Major League Soccer also made their mark. Olatunji Victor scored twice for Real Salt Lake in a 2–2 draw with St. Louis City, helping his club secure a place in the MLS playoffs.
Alhassan Yusuf shone for New England Revolution, scoring the club’s fastest goal of the season — just 44 seconds into the game — before providing an assist in another 2–2 draw.
In Central Europe, Rafiu Durosinmi continued his fine form for Viktoria Plzen, netting the winner against Bohemians 1905 to reach double figures for the season in the Czech top flight.
The performances highlight the growing influence of Nigerian players across various leagues. Onuachu’s blistering form positions him as one of the Super Eagles’ top attacking options, while Iwobi’s endurance in England underscores the steady presence of Nigerian talent at the highest level of football.
As the Super Eagles prepare for their next round of World Cup qualifiers, the combination of in-form forwards like Onuachu and experienced campaigners such as Iwobi will be key to Nigeria’s success.
All eyes will be on whether Onuachu can maintain his scoring momentum and if Osimhen will return to his dominant best in the coming weeks.
