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By Peter Akinbo.
While everyone is singing the praises of the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Lorient’s Terem Moffi and even Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho for his exploits in the English FA Cup, there are some other Nigerian players displaying remarkable performances across who remain under the radar of fans and deserve to be celebrated.
PUNCH Sports Extra takes a look at some of these unsung stars and the numbers they have put up either on the offensive or defensive end…
Caleb Okoli (Atalanta)
While on loan from Atalanta, Okoli, who was born to Nigerian parents in Italy, proved his credentials in the 2021/22 season, when he helped Cremonese gain promotion to the Italian Serie A.
Okoli’s contributions in defence are difficult to ignore as they have kept seven clean sheets in 21 games, while limiting their opponents to just a goal on six occasions as Atalanta occupy sixth position in the league, just two points behind fourth-place Roma.
Michael Folorunsho (Bari)
Born in Italy, Folorunsho is one of the revelations for Bari, having enjoyed an excellent start to the 2022/2023 Serie B season.
The 24-year-old midfielder has scored six goals with two assists in 22 appearances, a contribution that has lifted Bari to third on the Serie B table, as they chase promotion back to Serie A.
Yira Sor (Genk)
YSor has been lighting up the pitch for new employers, Genk, in the Belgian Pro League right from day one, after scoring the match winner on his debut against Zulte Waregem.
The 22-year-old has chipped in with two goals in six appearances for the Belgian giants and has quickly become a fans favourite at the Cegekena Arena for his dribbling skills and marauding runs.
Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp)
Yusuf’s form this season has seen him highly valued highly at Belgian club Antwerp, the midfielder having started every single game played by the club this season, 24 in total.
The 22-year-old has more than doubled his original transfer valuation at the start of the season, thanks to his five-star displays, which shot his value from €2.2m to €4.5m.
Not known for goals scoring goals or providing assists, he is a defensive midfielder who closes all the holes in the middle, which has drawn comparisons with Chelsea’s N’golo Kante.
George Ilenikhena (Amiens)
The 16-year-old Ilenikhena wrote his name in the record books after he scored the stoppage time leveler for Amiens to help them draw 1-1 against Bordeaux in the Ligue 2.
In so doing, he became the first player born in 2006 to score in one of the top two leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain.
His goals scoring prowess in the N3-lauts-de-France league this season has been phenomenal as he has hit target six times in six games this season.
Eduvie Ikoba (Zalaegerszegi TE)
Ikoba is one of the breakout players for ZTE in the Hungarian NB-I League, scoring 10 goals in 16 league games.
Ikoba’s menacing 6ft4in frame makes him tough to stop aerially, with six of his league goals coming from a header.
Victor Adeboyejo (Bolton)
Adeboyejo has put pen to paper over a three-and-a-half-year deal at the University of Bolton Stadium and arrives for a reported £500,000 fee, which would make him the club’s most expensive signing since Jay Spearing was brought in from Liverpool in 2013.
Before his switch to Bolton on Friday, he was having a banner season at Burton Albion, scoring 13 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions.
Freddie Ladapo (Ipswich)
Recently turned 30, Ladapo has been enjoing the form of his life at Ipswich Town in the third-tier English division.
The British-Nigerian has scored 10 league goals as fourth-place Ipswich seek promotion to the Championship.
Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (Celje)
Ikwuemesi has scored six goals PrvaLiga side NK Celje to remain among the top scorers in the Slovenian topflight league for the 2022/23 season.
The 21-year-old signed for the club in the summer and has already established himself in the first team after his goals propelled the side to the third position in the league table.
Rasheed Akanbi (Sheriff Tiraspol)
Akanbi has scored six goals for Sheriff Tiraspol in the Moldovan National Division and is the joint-top scorer in the league this season.
The 23-year-old has scored 25 per cent of Sheriff’s goals as they top the league in the regular season table ahead of closest rivals Petrocup by six points.
Iyayi Atiemwen (Sheriff Tiraspol)
Akanbi’s teammate Atiemwen has found the back of the net three times in the Moldovan division, doing his bit to contribute to the Moldovan champions’ campaign.
The 27-year-old exciting winger is a menace for opposition defences as his tricky runs continue to yield results for his side.
Rody Effaghe (FC Dinamo-Auto)
While Moldovan side FC Dinamo-Auto have struggled as a team this season, Effaghe has enjoyed great individual success. The 18-year-old has scored three goals out of his team’s five in 14 matches in what has been an incredible breakout season for him.
Marvin Egho (Randers)
Austrian-Nigerian Egho has been pivotal for Randers Freja in the Danish Superliga with the 28-year-old netting six goals in 15 appearances.
Randers are sixth on the table with three points seperating them from third-place Copenhagen after 17 games in the 2022/23 season.
Anthony Ohikhuaeme (Brondby)
Son of a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother, striker Ohikhuaeme has scored five goals in nine appearances for Brondby in the Danish Superliga.
John Owoeri (IFK Mariehamn)
36-year-old John Owoeri is ageing just like fine wine in the Finnish Premier Division after scoring 11 goals in 22 matches for IFK Mariehamn during the 2022 season.
A former teammate of Mikel Obi at the 2005 U-20 World Cup, where Nigeria finished second behind Argentina, Owoeri does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Raphael Odogwu (Sudtirol)
With eight goals in 24 games for Sudtirol, forward Odogwu is joint-third on the scoring charts in the Italian Serie B as the 32-year-old shows he still has a lot in the bank.