Afrigather A number of Nigerian footballers had a memorable 2023, giving followers many unforgettable moments when little or nothing was anticipated of them.
Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons highlights 5 of probably the most promising children whose excellent performances this 12 months took breathes away and made admirers of many neutrals.
1. Present Orban – KAA Gent
Little or no was identified about Present Orban when he signed for Gent in January, as he had by no means featured for any of Nigeria’s youth groups.
However Gent knew they’d acquired a gem as Orban had been named the Norwegian First Division Younger Participant of the Yr for 2022.
The teenager wasted no time in saying his arrival in Belgium, netting a brace on his Professional League debut in a 3–3 draw with Westerlo.
By March, he was the speak of the city after he scored 4 targets in a 6–2 away win over Zulte Waregem, turning into the primary Gent participant to take action within the twenty first century.
Three days later, Orban made Europe sit up and take discover as he smashed dwelling a first-half hat-trick in a 4–1 away win over İstanbul Başakşehir within the UEFA Europa Convention League spherical 16.
Orban’s hat-trick took solely three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a brand new document for the quickest hat-trick in UEFA membership competitions, breaking the earlier document of six minutes and 12 seconds held by Mohammed Salah within the Champions League.
By the tip of the 12 months, Orban earned his first Tremendous Eagles call-up, finishing a incredible first 12 months in Belgium.
Orban has slowed down a bit in current weeks, however at solely 21, extra continues to be to return from the Benue-born ahead.
2. Victor Boniface – Bayer Leverkusen
Accidents and inconsistencies blighted Boniface’s time at Bodø/Glimt, and he would have hoped for higher when he signed for Union Saint Gilloise in mid-2022.
Apparently, Boniface received higher and far more at Union SG, and by the point 2023 rolled in, he was in full movement.
The Actual Sapphire academy product scored six targets in ten video games to assist USG attain the quarterfinals of the Europa League, whereas he completed as joint-top scorer with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.
Bayer Leverkusen swiftly snapped him up for simply over 20 million euros this summer time, and it seems to be the most effective zwanzig millionen the membership has ever spent.
Boniface has picked up every of the primary 4 Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards in Germany and he added the Participant of the Month for August as nicely.
The 23-year-old attacker has been Bayer Leverkusen’s star man as they claimed 20 wins from their first 23 video games to remain prime of the Bundesliga and their Europa League group.
Boniface’s glorious performances have additionally gained him the admiration of Tremendous Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro, who has handed the teenager 5 caps and named him within the provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
He has overtaken Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, and Ademola Lookman to develop into Nigeria’s second-most-valuable participant behind Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
3. Igoh Ogbu – Slavia Prague
After excelling for Nigeria because the Flying Eagles impressed on the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Ogbu’s profession went below the radar as he featured for a few Norwegian sides.
Nevertheless, on 6 January 2023, the no-nonsense centre-back joined Czech Republic giants Slavia Prague and rapidly grew to become one in every of Nigeria’s greatest defenders in Europe.
A daily characteristic in Slavia’s lineup, Ogbu is among the explanation why the Slavists almost wrestled the league title from rivals Sparta Prague on the final day of final season.
The previous Lillestrom star has kicked off the 2023/24 marketing campaign in glorious trend, serving to Slavia Prague document some attention-grabbing outcomes, together with beating Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma within the Europa League.
Ogbu can be disillusioned to overlook out on Nigeria’s 40-man provisional squad to the 2023 AFCON, however it’s only a matter of time earlier than the 23-year-old turns into the pillar of the Tremendous Eagles defence.
4. Akor Adams – Montpellier
Adams has loved a sensational 2023.
The previous Flying Eagles striker smashed 15 league targets and added two assists in Lillestrom within the first half of the 12 months, convincing Montpellier to shell €4.5 million for his providers in the summertime.
Montpellier can be glad they parted with that princely sum as Adams has taken to the French Ligue 1 with out hassle.
The 23-year-old ahead has scored one other seven targets in 17 league video games in France and has attracted the eye of a few of Europe’s greatest golf equipment, together with AC Milan.
Huge issues await the previous Sogndal ace – now valued at greater than twice his switch price – in 2024.
5. Robert Christian Mizo – Bayelsa United
The one participant within the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League on this checklist, Robert Mizo has been one of many brightest children within the home scene.
Mizo was the second-highest objective scorer final season, with eight targets, and he carried the momentum into this marketing campaign.
After solely 15 matches this time period, the Bayelsa United star is on the prime of the goalscorer’s chart with ten targets, which features a hat-trick in opposition to Akwa United and braces in opposition to Kwara United and Abia Warriors.
Mizo’s excellence is much more vital contemplating Bayelsa United are struggling within the NPFL’s relegation waters and has solely managed 19 targets to this point.
A transfer to a extra constant staff subsequent 12 months may see the 23-year-old attacker take his recreation to the subsequent stage and produce extra leisure to followers of the NPFL.
