Nigeria is one of the countries that make up the Premier League this season. Super Eagles stars are known in the Premier league, and are a major part of their club’s project.
One of the biggest Nigerian stars in the Premier League is Alex Iwobi, whose uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha, also played in the league for Bolton Wanderers.
Iwobi has had a very brilliant start to life in the Premier League and is one of the first names on the team sheet for Fulham.
He has played six matches for Fulham this season and has scored one goal and provided two assists.
Aside from the goal, he has created six chances, had a pass accuracy of 79%, four successful crosses, and four successful dribbles.
The midfielder has also helped the team defensively with 17 ball recoveries and two key interceptions.
His performance has also drawn praise from ex football stars.
Recently, Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle praised his precision while distributing the ball in the game against Brentford:
“This is a beautiful pass, it really is. The defenders go with Muniz, he’s seen it, there’s a hole there, a gap to Wilson and what a finish, he’s just kept his balance.”
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur legend Dimitar Berbatov also acknowledged the player’s brilliance:
“From the moment the ball reached Iwobi’s feet, what a pass, unbelievable. A world-class pass, and the finish was on the same level.”
Iwobi keeps improving every season and has shown the best is yet to come.
His teammate, Calvin Bassey is another player who has caught the eye. He played every single minute of Fulham’s Premier League games last season.
So far, he has had 90% pass accuracy, completing 270 passes and 75% dribbles.
Defensively, he has won four tackles, 23 duels showing his physicality, blocked three shots leading to goal, 24 ball recoveries, and made two crucial interceptions.
He needs to improve on his take ons as he has been dribbled past twice.
His best game so far this season was against Manchester United, maintaining composure while executing his defensive duties.
Another player of great quality is Frank Onyeka, who is called “The Tank” because of his strength and physicality.
He is struggling to get game time this season. He has only played a combined 61 minutes for Brentford this season and has one assist.
The midfielder doesn’t appear to be one of Keith Andrews’ go to players, but he is still appreciated by the gaffer as he has started in the club’s League Cup matches this season, playing a combination of 176 minutes.
Crystal Palace new boy Chrisantus Uche is also one to watch.
The 22-year-old is a player that has caught the eye recently and is considered one of the next generation of Nigerian footballers expected to do great things on the big stage.
It is still early days for him in the Premier League, he has only played one game in the league, in which he played six minutes against Sunderland.
He showed flashes of his quality, registering as many shots on target as the entire team had in the previous 84 minutes.
Uche recorded two touches in the opposition box, one pass into the final third, and completed 71% of his passes.
The 22-year-old also contributed defensively, winning 100% of his ground duels and making one ball recovery.
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner hailed him, saying:
“He was great; he had a big chance as well. I think we could have gotten a penalty in that situation.”
Tolu Arokodare has had a really slow start to life in the Premier League.
He has failed to score or assist in his last two games, and his club Wolves are relegation candidates following a poor start to the season that has left them rock bottom.
Arokodare has had only one shot on target, made 10 successful passes in two games, created only one chance, and failed to complete any take on.
Fulham new boy Samuel Chukwueze has been an unused substitute in his first two games and has not played any game for the club.
Ola Aina enjoyed a really good start to the season, playing every single minute of Nottingham Forest’s first three matches of the season with a total rating of 7.09.
But he picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria and had to undergo surgery. He is expected to be out until December.
Lastly, the forgotten man at Nottingham Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi
Awoniyi has not appeared in any match for Forest this season and has only been on the bench on two occasions, in the Premier League against Brentford and the League Cup against Swansea.
It’s unclear if Ange Postecoglou will give him a chance or if he will have to move on in January.
