Two Nigerian stars have emerged among the many Bundesliga’s greatest dribblers after 25 rounds of the 2024-25 season, Soccernet.ng studies.
St. Pauli’s Oladapo Afolayan and Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella have made the highest 50 dribblers checklist, becoming a member of elite names like Florian Wirtz, Harry Kane, and Jamal Musiala, based on Euro Soccer Rumours.
St. Pauli winger Afolayan ranks sixth within the league with 43 profitable dribbles, cementing his place among the many division’s most elusive gamers.
Promotion to the Bundesliga is one other milestone in Dapo Afolayan’s profession:
— Began within the Chelsea academy
— Studied in Canada and England unis
— Non-league type result in West Ham transfer
— EFL standout earlier than signing for St. PauliEach participant has their very own distinctive journey. pic.twitter.com/jO5cjkXRKz
— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) Could 12, 2024
The 27-year-old is outperformed solely by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (73 dribbles), Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (73), Bayern Munich duo Jamal Musiala (62) and Michael Olise (51), and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush (46), who joined Manchester Metropolis within the winter switch window.
Apparently, each Musiala and Olise have Nigerian heritage however opted to signify Germany and France on the worldwide stage.
Afolayan’s rise in Germany
Afolayan, who was Bolton Wanderers’ Participant of the Season in 2021-22, joined St. Pauli in 2023 and performed a key function of their Bundesliga 2 title-winning marketing campaign.
Whereas eligible for England, he has pledged his worldwide future to Nigeria and remains to be awaiting his first Tremendous Eagles call-up.
Welcome to TaP23, Dapo Afolayan!@dapo_afolayan performed a starring function in St Pauli’s promotion to the Bundesliga this season, scoring in double figures from the wing. From non-league soccer in England to the Bundesliga, Dapo’s story is a tribute to his expertise and dedication⚽ pic.twitter.com/XQfhxya2nl
— TaP23 (@_tap23) June 17, 2024
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Nigeria’s Tella joins the checklist, however harm strikes
Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella is the one present Tremendous Eagles participant on the Bundesliga’s top-50 dribblers checklist, rating joint-Forty second with 18 profitable dribbles, alongside membership teammate Jeremie Frimpong.
Tella’s dribbling tally is simply two fewer than Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (20), 4 behind RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons (22), and 5 in need of Bayern’s Leroy Sané (23).
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old will probably be unable so as to add to his numbers after struggling an harm that guidelines him out of Leverkusen’s conflict with Stuttgart on Sunday.
Camp Replace: Joshua Torunarigha has been known as to interchange injured Nathan Tella. We want Nathan fast restoration #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/h5iaesFFxk
— Tremendous Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 13, 2025
The setback has additionally compelled him to withdraw from Nigeria’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with Gent defender Jordan Torunarigha known as up as his substitute.
The Tremendous Eagles face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 earlier than internet hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo 4 days later as they proceed their push for a 2026 FIFA World Cup spot.
Extra Nigerian heritage amongst Bundesliga’s prime dribblers
Past Tella, Afolayan, Olise and Musiala, a number of different gamers with Nigerian roots seem on the Bundesliga dribbling charts.
RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, who has a Nigerian father however represents Norway, is ninth with 37 profitable dribbles.
In the meantime, Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, who performs for Germany, ranks 18th with 27 dribbles.