A fast-rising ace in USA’s National Football League (NFL), Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues showcasing his Nigerian heritage by replicating the celebration style of Bayern Munich FC’s Michael Olise, Sports247 reports.
Although they feature in vastly different sports and are based in distant countries apart, Smith-Njigba is not in any way deterred, as the lad with grandparents from Sierra Leone uses the slightest opportunity to show his admiration for Olise.
Incidentally, Olise, who previously played for Crystal Palace, has multiple nationality options – which include Nigeria, Algeria and England – but he chose to represent France at full international level, much to the admiration of Smith-Njigba.
In order to show how much awe he has for the French international, Smith-Njigba has adopted the soccer star’s celebration style whenever he excels for Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, where his latest thrills came in a stunning win over Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith-Njigba hogged highpoints of the tie-on Sunday night, as The Seahawks won 20-3 and handed The Chiefs their first loss of the season, mostly due to how their key players – Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker III – both had quiet nights for the squad with five victories on their cards.
On the other hand, it was smooth sailing for Smith-Njigba, as he caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, which combined in helping The Seahawks (4-3) snap a two-game losing streak, further buoyed by Emanuel Wilson’s 24 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown.
The Seahawks kept a tight grip on Mahomes and former Seattle player, Walker III, who was the Super Bowl MVP while playing for the opposing squad last season before signing with Chiefs in the off-season, but was held to 36 yards on 14 carries in Sunday’s game.
The only bright spot for Kansas City’s offense was a milestone for Travis Kelce, who had four receptions to reach 1,104 for his career, moving past Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter for fifth in NFL history, but fiery form from Smith-Njigba helped Seattle Seahawks stabilise and eventually carry the day.
A telling point in this game that helped Seahawks end Chiefs’ unbeaten start came when Darnold hit Smith-Njigba for a 33-yard gain early in the second quarter to get The Seahawks in the red zone, following which Jason Myers kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On the next series, Ty Okada intercepted Mahomes on a pass intended for Jalen Royals. Seattle’s ensuing drive was kept alive by Darnold’s seven-yard scramble, then connected with Smith-Njigba for a 28-yard touchdown to put Seattle up 10-0 with 1:44 left in the first half.
Another 28-yard pass from Darnold to Smith-Njigba got Seahawks another one ahead of Kansas City in the closing seconds of the half and, in apite of a huge interception by Nohl Williams in the back of the end zone and he returned the pick 64 yards, Harrison Butker’s 58-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired.
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