As the football season comes to an end in most leagues in Europe, we take a look at some Super Eagles players who produced the best thrilling performance in their various clubs across Europe. From Victor Osimhen leading Napoli to their first league title in 33 years in 2023, to Victor Boniface helping Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in over 120 years of football and now, Ademola Lookman firing his Italian team Atalanta to their second ever major trophy in the Club’s history, these players alongside other Super Eagles players were impressive during the 2023/2024 season ahead of the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Nigerian players are presently making their mark in the football world.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Here are Seven Players Who Helped Their Clubs to Domestic and European Titles This Season
1) Victor Boniface & Nathan Tella:
Both Super Eagles players had a season to remember with their Bayer Leverkusen as they won the domestic double and went unbeaten in over 51 games. The duo helped the German side to win the Bundesliga title for the first time in over 120 years of the club’s history, putting an end to Bayern Munich’s 11-year league title dominance. Xabi Alonso’s men were on course to achieve an incredible feat of winning the treble but lost to Atalanta at the Europa League Final and thus ending their unbeaten run.
Bayer Leverkusen, however, clinched the DFB Pokal on May 25, 2024, to end a remarkable season on a very high note.
Victor Boniface has been one of the leading influence for Leverkusen this season, he joined them from Belgium side Union St Gilloise in last summer’s transfer window and has been very impressive in his first season with the club scoring 21 goals and a further nine assists in just 34 games,14 in the Bundesliga, five in the Europa league and two in the DFB-Pokal alongside winning personal accolades like the Bundesliga Player of the Month on one occasion and 5-time winner of the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month.
Similarly, Nathan Tella was equally impressive for Leverkusen. The former Burnley winger was crucial in attack and defence for the Bundesliga champions. Tella joined Leverkusen from English side Southampton last summer after spending last season with Burnley in the Championship. With five goals in 24 games, and a solitary goal in the Europa League to his name Tella ended his first season at Leverkusen with two Domestic cups.
Both players are gearing up to join the National team next month for their World cup qualifiers against Benin Republic and South Africa after being called up by new Super Eagles’ coach Finidi George. Boniface has 5 national team appearances for the Super Eagles while Nathan Tella who recently switched allegiance to Nigeria has just one appearance in the National Team’s jersey.
2) Peter Olayinka:
Nigerian striker, Peter Olayinka and his Serbian side, Red Star Belgrade, have just recently been crowned Champions of the Serbian league and Serbian Cup winners. Peter Olayinka joined the Serbian giants last summer after five years at Czech Republic with Slavia Prague and quickly established himself as an important player for the team.
Olayinka’s side won both the league title and Domestic cup this season making it a remarkable season as they won their sixth consecutive league title making it the club’s 35th title in its history, which asserts the dominance of the Serbian giants in Serbian football. Olayinka had a good campaign in his first season as he ended the campaign with 11 goals and four assists in 35 league games for the Serbian outfit. He also represented them in the UEFA Champions League with five appearances to his name.
For the National team, Peter Olayinka has four caps since making his debut for the Super Eagles in 2019.
3) Ademola Lookman:
Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman became the talk of the footballing world recently as his historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side, which featured fellow Super Eagles teammates Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface, fired the Italian side to their first major trophy in 61 years.
Lookman’s magical hat-trick earned him a place in the history books as he became the first player to score a hat trick in the final of the Europa League, first African player to score a hat trick in a major UEFA competition final and the first player to score a hat trick in a major UEFA competition final since 1975.
At the national level, Lookman has 21 international caps to his name playing for the Nigerian National team after making his debut for Nigeria in their goalless draw against Ghana in their 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Lookman has scored six goals for Nigeria including his vital brace in the 2-0 win over Cameroon in the round of 16 stage at the 2023 African Cup of Nations. He is among the 23-man squad for Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying games next month under the stewardship of new coach, Finidi George.
4) Raphael Onyedika:
Super Eagles and Club Brugge Midfielder, Onyedika won the Belgium Pro League title with his club, Club Brugge. The Midfielder helped the club to their fourth league title in five years and their 19th league title in the club’s history.
Onyedika made 29 league appearances for the Belgian side and provided three goals with an assist to his name, with further appearances for the club in the 2023-2024 Champions League campaign. In April, he scored a vital brace in the win against Anderlecht in a Belgian championship playoff match.
Onyedika is part of the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. He was a member of the Eagles Travelling Squad for the 2023 African Cup Of Nations in Ivory Coast.
5) Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Ihenacho:
Leicester City’s Nigerian duo Wifred Ndidi and Kelechi Ihenacho guided the English team back to the premier league and were crowned champions of the just concluded Championship season.
Both Nigerian players were integral in Leicester’s journey to the Premier league under the guidance of Enzo Maresca.
Ndidi, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Leicester City was an important player for the English side as he made 32 league appearances with four goals and five assists to his name while attacker Kelechi Ihenacho, who suffered an injury disrupted season, ended the campaign with five goals in 23 League appearances.
Ndidi and Kelechi Ihenacho are among the players that will represent Nigeria in the World Cup Qualifying matches against Benin Republic and South Africa which are scheduled for next month. Ndidi is back in the National team fold after missing out on the 2023 AFCON squad due to injury.
