It has not been a bad season for the Super Eagles forwards in Europe this season, and in our second part series of Nigerian players with the most goal contributions, we take a look at another five players who have excelled in this aspect as the European season winds down.
There might be some who have higher numbers, but the metrics used were dependent on the player's league, and the number of contributions.
For the second part, we profile Paul Onuachu, Tolu Arokodare, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Nathan Tella.
Special mention goes to the likes of Philip Otele and Jerome Adams (Montpellier).
1. Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
16 GC – 12 goals, 4 assists
The towering striker remains a force to be reckoned with in the Turkish Süper Lig. Onuachu's physical presence and aerial prowess have been key for Trabzonspor's run in the league.
He currently boasts an impressive tally of 12 goals and four assists, proving himself as a vital attacking weapon, and just last weekend he scored a hat-trick against Gaziantep FK to add to his season’s tally.
Already, his form has seen a few clubs seeking to sign him on for next season to bolster their attack. He was part of Nigeria’s silver-winning squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
2. Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
17 GC – 14 goals, 3 assists
The tall striker has been one of the star performers for former Belgian champions Genk this season.
He helped them qualify for the Championship Round, where he has been among the goals too.
In the regular season, Tolu scored eight goals and he has added another three in the play-offs aside from another three he got in the Crocky Cup, Champions League qualifiers, and the Champions League playoff to bring his tally in all competitions to 14 goals.
The former Golden Eaglets striker has also added four assists.
3. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
12 GC – 6 goals, 6 assists
Not who you would expect to be on this list considering his role in the Super Eagles but this season, in the Championship with Leicester City, manager Enzo Maresca moved Wilfred Ndidi into a more advanced role for the Foxes.
The move has paid dividends as Ndidi has chipped in with important goals and assists as Leicester earned promotion back to the Premier League.
While not known for his goalscoring exploits, Ndidi's contribution lies in his ability to win tackles, intercept passes, and dictate the tempo of the game. However, he has surprised this season with goals and assists, proving he can chip in offensively when needed.
With his contract up in the summer, it will be left to see if the Super Eagles midfielder will sign a new deal with the team or seek pasture elsewhere.
4. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
13 GC – 7 goals, 6 assists
The energetic midfielder has carved out a niche for himself in the dynamic Hatayspor team in the Turkish Süper Lig. Dele-Bashiru's tireless work-rate and intelligent passing have been instrumental to the team’s drive to escape relegation.
After 34 games, Hatayspor are in 18th place with 33 points from 34 games, and will need a miracle to survive the drop.
For the Nigerian midfielder, he has scored seven goals and provided six assists for his team as they look to avoid relegation.
5. Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
11 GC – 7 goals, 4 assists
Though still adapting to the Bundesliga's demands, the young winger has shown glimpses of his talent for Bayer Leverkusen. Tella's dribbling skills and ability to create chances have impressed fans.
He played his part in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win and run in the Europa League.
Xabi Alonso usually deploys him as an impact sub and he’s done relatively well given the number of minutes he has gotten so far.
Despite limited games, the 24-year-old has scored an impressive seven goals and added four assists to show his growth within the Leverkusen ranks.
Surely, if he had more time he would have been able to add more to his season’s tally.
