Five Nigerian players with most goals in a single UCL season

Napoli Starman Victor Osimhen became the second Nigerian player to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League season after his late equalizer against AC Milan on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old joined former Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni as the three Nigerian players to have achieved this feat.

Sadly, Osimhen's late header wasn't enough to secure qualification to the next stage for the Naples-based club as the Rossoneri progressed to the semi-finals of this year's UCL on a 2-1 aggregate.

In this piece, we put the spotlight on the Nigerian payers with the most UCL goals in a single season.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli) - 5 goals

Victor Osimhen joined the likes of Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni by becoming the third Nigerian to manage 5 goals in a single UCL campaign.

The Napoli talisman scored a 93rd-minute header against Milan to draw Napoli level after Olivier Giroud had given Stephan Pioli's side the lead in the first half.


Obafemi Martins (Inter Milan) - 5 goals

The former Nigerian striker managed 5 UCL goals for Inter Milan in the 2004/05 season helping them to reach the quarterfinal before losing to AC Milan.


Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Maccabi Haifa) - 5 goals

The ex-Super Eagles striker was the first Nigerian player to manage 5 UCL goals in a season during his spell with Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in the 2002/2003 season.

His goals included a hattrick against Olympiakos and a penalty in a 3–0 win over Manchester United.

Victor Ikpeba (Monaco) - 4 goals

The former Nigerian forward netted 4 UCL goals in the 1997/1998 season for AS Monaco.

Ikpeba played in Jean Tigana's talented Monaco side which famously put Manchester United out of the Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford.

Tijani Babangida (Ajax) - 3 goals

The Kaduna-born ex-winger also scored three UCL goals in a season for Ajax Amsterdam in the 1996/1997 season.

WDN