By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 2, 2025

As AFCON 2025 approaches, Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu can’t stop scoring, raising the possibility of returning to the Super Eagles after being left out in recent times. ABIODUN ADEWALE writes

 Game after game, Paul Onuachu keeps sending a message that is hard to ignore.

During the weekend, the lanky striker scored two goals for Trabzonspor, inspiring them to a 3-1 comeback over Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

That took his tally to 11 goals in 14 league matches, shooting him head and shoulders above every other Nigerian striker, including Victor Osimhen. Thanks to Onuachu as well, Trabzonspor has closed the gap on Fenerbahce and Galatasaray at the top of the table.

Osimhen, on the other hand, has scored just three times in the league this season, but that has not diminished his value in the Turkish topflight. He was the league’s top scorer last season with 26 goals in 30 games.

As far as the Super Eagles are concerned, Osimhen is the undisputed top striker. But the question has always been, who plays when Osimhen isn’t?

Over the last five FIFA windows, various players have emerged, but none have been able to establish their claim, as the Super Eagles have continued to struggle without Osimhen. The Super Eagles’ struggle without the Galataşaray forward was amplified during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He missed five matches during the series and was substituted just after the halfway through one, and the team failed to win any of those games.

In Osimhen’s absence, Onuachu was also involved in two of those games, playing 80 minutes in the 1-1 draw against South Africa and 39 minutes in the 2-1 loss to the Benin Republic.

In fairness to other strikers, none of them was really in top shape when they had to fill the boots of Osimhen.

For Onuachu, he is probably in one of the best forms of his career and doesn’t have to fill the boots of Osimhen. Barring any form of injury to the main man, the former Genk striker can be a reliable partner or alternative to Osimhen.

The 31-year-old has been consistently making his case for a seat on the plane to Morocco, and it would be hard for Eric Chelle to ignore the man, who was last invited to the national team by Finidi George in 2024.

On current form, he is the most reliable guy to throw in when Osimhen isn’t fit to play, but questions have also been asked about his suitability for the national team set-up.

Onuachu is a service-based striker, which explains why he may struggle to get goals in a Super Eagles team that lacks creativity and also relies on wingers who would cut in and shoot rather than cross.

Before now, he has played 25 games in Nigerian colours, scoring just three goals.

His numbers in the national team might not be prolific enough for a striker, but he certainly merits a spot in the travelling squad to Morocco.

Having also been to two AFCONS, winning a bronze in 2019 and silver in 2023, the Trabzonspor man has an extra motivation to change the colour of his medal. That might be the fuel that fires the Super Eagles to a fourth continental glory in Morocco.

Source Punch Ng

Posted December 2, 2025

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