2022-2023 season: Nigerian top-scorers in major European leagues

The 2022/2023 season across major European top-flight football leagues has seen some Nigerian-born players shine in their respective leagues.

From Osimhen in Italy’s Napoli to Terem Moffi in France’s Ligue 1 and Taiwo Awoniyi in the English Premier League, The PUNCH examines Nigerian professional football players topping the goal charts in their respective leagues

Victor Osimhen

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is the highest goal scorer so far this season in Italian league Serie A with 13 goals scored in 15 matches played.

The 24-year-old, who plays as a striker for Napoli has been in premium form this season, having three assists also to his credit.

The top scorer has netted four times in Napoli’s last five league matches, including a brace scored against Juventus in a 5-1 thrilling victory.

He is also being linked to a possible Manchester United move this summer and is estimated to be worth more than £100m.

Terem Moffi

Teremas Igobor Moffi, better known as Terem Moffi is the second Nigerian professional footballer with highest goals scored so far this season. Moffi, who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lorient, has garnered 12 goals from 19 matches played so far.

This makes him the number two scorer in Ligue 1 as things stands, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe sitting in first place with 13 goals.

Moffi is only the Nigeria international that has averaged a goal every 106 minutes in the new season, netting braces against Clermont Foot and Lens before strikes against Lyon and Auxerre.

The 23-year-old is currently the most expensive player in the Lorient squad.

Ademola Lookman

Nigeria’s football star Ademola Lookman sits pretty in number three but is however, the second highest goal scorer in Serie A this season, just behind Victor Osimhen with 11 goals so far.

Lookman, who plays as a winger for Atalanta, garnered his 11 goals from 18 matches played for the club. He also has three assists to his credit so far this season.

Bukayo Saka

Although not a Nigerian by birth, but a Nigerian by roots, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka makes it to number four on our list.

The British-born Nigerian has eight goals to his credit from 19 matches played for the Gunners with seven goal assists so far this season.

Saka, 21, known for his attacking incisiveness and creativity, is considered one of the best young football players in the world.

Only in Sunday’s match thrilling victory against Manchester United, Saka scored the Gunners’ second goal with a beautiful left footed shot from the outside of the box to the bottom left corner. He has indeed become an asset to the North London side.

Taiwo Awoniyi

Taiwo Awoniyi is Nottingham Forest’s highest goal scorer so far this season with four goals from 16 matches played. The 25-year-old shares the number one spot with colleague, Brennan Johnson who also has four goals.

Awoniyi however, has. six goals from all competitions played for Forest so far this season.

His contributions to the club has been outstanding this season and his winning strike against Southampton took Forest out of the relegation zone on the Premier League table earlier in the month.