Why can't Onuachu transfer his blistering club form to the Super Eagles?

 

The Genk striker is averaging close to a goal every game, but has struggled to command respect or minutes at national team level

Going back to the late-80s, when the late great Stephen Keshi first made his way to Lokeren, the Belgian top flight has always proven a fruitful destination for Nigerian players.

From the aforementioned ‘Big Boss’ to Daniel Amokachi to Joseph Akpala to, more recently, the likes of Moses Simon and Henry Onyekuru, the Jupiler League has fulfilled an important function as a sort of ‘stepping stone’ before the big five leagues come calling.

As such, perhaps it should come as no surprise that Nigeria’s highest goalscorer in Europe so far this season is a regular of Flemish hunting grounds. With 12 goals in 13 matches, Paul Onuachu is currently running at close to a goal every game, and unsurprisingly leads the scoring charts in Belgium.