As domestic leagues across the globe come to a stop, those who have received the call to represent their national sides are joining training camps in preparation for the second international break of the season.
One of these sides is Nigeria, who are set to face Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in two friendly games.
With these upcoming games, we’re taking a look at how some of the Nigerian stars have started their domestic league seasons.
Victor Osimhen
Napoli’s start to the season following last season’s title win hasn’t quite gone to plan as they find themselves in fifth place after eight games, already seven points behind the league leaders. Victor Osimhen, however, has found himself in much the same form from last season that made him one of the most sought after players in the summer transfer window. Despite the striker having yet to score in the UEFA Champions League, he has been fantastic in the Serie A averaging a goal every 104 minutes with him bagging six goals in the first eight games.
Terem Moffi
Having failed to make an appearance for Nigeria in the last international break against Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone, Moffi has been called up again this time round and will be hoping he can get on the pitch.
Despite a promising start to the season for Nice, which included a brilliant performance against PSG where he picked up two goals and an assist in a 3-2 victory, Moffi has struggled in recent games. Zero goals or assists in his last three, while managing just four shots accumulating to a disappointing 0.38xG (Expected Goals) has seen his form slip away.
Victor Boniface
Boniface’s start at Bayer 04 Leverkusen couldn’t have gone any better following his summer move to the German side. Claiming both the Player and Rookie of the Month awards for August, the first to do this since Erling Haaland in 2020, and also being nominated for the September Player of the Month, Boniface has been a revelation so far. Seven goals and two assists in seven games makes him the third top scorer in the division, while he tops the xG table with 8.06.
With the shot numbers that Boniface is putting up per game, taking a league high of 6.4 shots per 90 compared to Harry Kane’s 3.9, we don’t expect that Boniface’s goals will dry up any time soon.
Oluwafisayo Dele-Bashiru
Dele-Bashiru is a newcomer to the Nigeria squad for the upcoming set of friendlies with coach Jose Peseiro giving him his first call up to the side. The call up has been rightfully earned by the attacking midfielder, as he’s scored four and assisted once in his opening eight Trendyol Super Lig games for new side Hatayspor.
