Top six Nigerian players to keep an eye on this weekend

Domestic leagues throughout the world reopen their doors this weekend for contests to win points and advantageous positions in all league tables.

Several Nigerian players all across the world want to keep up their outstanding performances for their clubs, while others want to score their first goal for their team.

Soccernet.ng will highlight the top six Nigerian players to keep an eye on this weekend.

Paul Onuachu

On the eve of the transfer deadline, the former KRC Genk star completed a surprising switch from the Belgian team to Saint Mary Stadium to join Joe Aribo, another star for the Super Eagles, at Southampton.

Recall that before heading to England, the Nigerian scored 16 goals in 19 league games for the Smurfs, but after two domestic league games for the Hampshire-based team, the tallest player in the English Premier League is still without a goal.

The goal poacher has yet to empty out his cup of goals, so if the Ruben Selles-led team marches to Stamford Bridge, Onuachu may well be their Messiah in knocking Graham Potter’s team to the ground.

Alex Iwobi

The Super Eagles attacker may be finding life at the Merseyside club a little strange after working for seven different managers since moving to Goodison Park Stadium, but he hasn’t stopped putting up a great show for the Blues in their battle against relegation.

Under the direction of his former boss, Frank Lampard, the Nigerian star excelled, scoring a goal and dishing out five assists. And under his new manager, Sean Dyche, he is eager to bounce back from their Merseyside derby loss when they meet Leeds United at home.

Chuba Akpom

The Boro forward’s stellar performances in his last 25 domestic league games for Michael Carrick’s team have surely given the supporters enough to shout about.

He just won the second PFA fan’s Player Of The Month award for January in recognition of his three goals in the month, which brought his total to 17 goals in 25 league games.

The British-Nigerian, who swore allegiance to play for the West African nation, is currently in top position with 17 goals in the Sky Bet Championship to scorer chart and will be attempting to increase that total when Middlesbrough hosts Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside Stadium.

Ademola Lookman

After moving to Italy during the previous summer transfer window, the former RB Leipzig player has garnered high accolades for his performance. Lookman has been putting Atlanta on the map ever since he arrived.

When the Blue-Blacks welcome U.S. Lecce to Gewiss Stadium on Sunday, the 25-year-old will be looking to add to his goal total in his quest to overtake his countryman, Victor Osimhen, in the Serie A top scorers chart. He has scored 12 goals and contributed four assists in 21 domestic league appearances for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team.

Gift Orban

Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s men will be looking to get back to winning ways since their 3-nil victory against Sint-Truidense. Meanwhile, in their last match, the Nigerian marked his presence in Belgium by bagging a brace.

However, the 20-year-old Nigerian will be looking to fire on with his impressive run in the league as his team host Oud-Heverlee Leuven at the KAA Gent Stadium.

Kelechi Iheanacho

The Super Eagles forward has undoubtedly registered his value in the mind of Brendan Rodgers, who initially relegated him to the third-choice forward.

Since the absence of Jamie Vardy, ‘Senior man Kelz’ has been producing stellar performances for the Foxes by scoring in Leicester City’s last three games.

The Super Eagles forward will as well be seen as one of the key players in Brendan Rodger’s line-up when the East-Midlands travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester United.