5. Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)
Ola Aina is one of Nottingham Forest’s most important players this season. He is quite stable in defense on the right wing and can make high-speed runs into the other half of the pitch and dangerous crosses into the opponent’s box.
The Nigerian played his best match at Anfield against Liverpool, where he managed to completely neutralize Luis Díaz, playing with maximum power against the Colombian. His form carried through to the Chelsea match, where he effectively kept Jadon Sancho at bay.
Under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, Aina has become even more reliable in defense, avoiding positional errors and regularly contributing to the team’s attacking moves.
In my opinion, Ola Aina’s versatility and commitment make him one of the top five Nigerian players this season.
Wishing our Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina, a happy 28th birthday! 🇳🇬🎂
🏆 Premier League champion
🥈 AFCON Silver medalist
🥉 AFCON Bronze medalistDrop a birthday message for @Aina2Ola ❤️🎉 pic.twitter.com/GDc8M6gg6Q
— Pulse Sports Nigeria (@PulseSportsNG) October 8, 2024
4. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Victor Osimhen unexpectedly moved to Galatasaray due to salary demands that Chelsea was unwilling to meet. It seemed like the Nigerian striker would start scoring from the first match, but he needed some time to adapt.
Osimhen provided three assists in three consecutive matches and then scored two goals against Kasımpaşa. Together with Mauro Icardi, Osimhen forms a powerful attacking duo and they will likely help their club confidently win the Turkish league.
📉 The 10 biggest market value decreases, since June, following the September update of our valuation tool.
🥇 With the biggest decrease of -€28.7m, we find Victor Osimhen with a market value of €85.5m.#galatasaray #fcbarcelona #football pic.twitter.com/dn2MamctOg
— Football Benchmark (@Football_BM) October 6, 2024
3. Alex Iwobi (Fulham)
Fulham has unexpectedly become one of the top clubs in the English Premier League in the current season. Under Marco Silva’s management, the team is demonstrating high-quality football in all phases of the game, sitting in the top eight in terms of real points earned and even in the top four based on expected metrics.
Alex Iwobi is one of Fulham’s key players. He diligently contributes to the team’s defense and effectively participates in attacking actions. Iwobi creates smooth combinations in the triangle with Antonee Robinson and Emile Smith Rowe and regularly delivers penetrating passes to his teammates.
Alex Iwobi has made 21 passes into the penalty area this season.
Only Lamine Yamal has made more in Europe’s top 5 leagues.#FFC #FulhamFC pic.twitter.com/ByPDezYPcZ
— Its_Ibz (@ItsIbzFFC) October 9, 2024
If he can avoid injuries, it is quite possible that Alex Iwobi will be able to demonstrate the best performance of his career in the current season.
It’s hard to imagine Fulham playing an effective positional and counter-attacking game without a player like Iwobi.
2. Victor Okoh Boniface (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Victor Okoh Boniface emerged as one of the top discoveries in European football last season. The 23-year-old Nigerian forward played a crucial role at the heart of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s attack, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists.
If it weren’t for injuries, Boniface could have scored even more, as he consistently found himself in dangerous positions and expertly converted his chances.
VICTOR OKOH BONIFACE HAS SCORED A BRACE FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN IN 26 MINUTES 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ezlqip0tO8
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 5, 2024
However, after an incredibly successful season, the question remained as to whether Boniface could come close to replicating his incredible performance in the new season. In the first two Bundesliga matches, he struggled to make an impact, but then he scored five goals in six games.
Boniface has a good chance of becoming one of the best forwards in world football. He excels in pressing and counter-pressing, and is more technically adept and agile than, for example, Osimhen and Haaland.
Additionally, his goal-scoring instinct is developed to the highest level, and this season confirms that Boniface can already be considered a top-class forward who can consistently score even in the highest-level matches.
1. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Ademola Lookman has been considered one of the most promising young players in European club football for several years. However, injuries and unfavorable conditions for talent development hindered his progress in the past.
But at Atalanta, he quickly became a key player and gradually transformed into one of the main stars of Serie A. Last season, Lookman demonstrated top-class performance in many matches, helping his team finish in the Champions League zone and win the Europa League.
Ademola Lookman’s special finish to secure his first-ever UCL goal ⚽✨ pic.twitter.com/mV2ofXmaPX
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) October 8, 2024
At the start of this season, Lookman has struggled to maintain stability due to injuries, but occasionally, he shows an incredible ability to make a difference. At times, he stands out on the field with his bright play, leaving one wondering why he hasn’t joined a top European club yet.
In the past month, Lookman has scored five goals and provided three assists, making him the absolute leader of Atalanta.
Therefore, in my opinion, at the moment, Ademola Lookman looks like the best football player from Nigeria.
