Trabzonspor of Turkey striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu’s current haul of 21 goals has been cited as the biggest asset charging the modest squad towards an unexpected spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Sports247 reports that the verdict about Onuachu’s massive impact in the ongoing season came from former Besiktas midfielder, Sinan Engin, who believes Trabzonspor are being powered by the tall Nigerian.
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Engin rated the former FC Ebedie of Sagamu, FC Midtjylland of Denmark, RKC Genk of Belgium and Southampton of England hitman’s form this season in the Turkish Super Lig on the same scale with his Super Eagles’ colleague, Victor Osimhen.
The iconic Engin added while speaking on Asist Analiz’s YouTube channel that Osimhen has done well in contributing 19 goals for Galatasaray, but noted that he has four fewer than Onuachu, who looks good to emerge top scorer this season.
That would see Onuachu follow in the footsteps of Osimhen, who last season became the fourth African player to claim the Turkish Super Lig top scorer’s gong, following Aatif Chahechouhe, Mbaye Diagne and Aaron Boupendza.
With Onuachu now on an amazing ten-game scoring streak across all competitions, he is not only set to repeat the top scoring feat he first achieved in Belgium with RKC Gent in 2021, he could take his Trabzon-based side into the UCL as well.
Engin remarked further that Onuachu’s goals have been vital in Trabzonspor’s quest for a UCL slot, as they are third on the table with eight matches left in the Super Lig, just seven points behind Galatasaray, who head the log on 64.
He told Habersarikirmizi, “There is no need for further explanation; it is clear to see. Onuachu has scored 21 goals. Had he only netted 15 goals, the team might have earned 6-8 fewer points by now.”
Sports247 recalls that Onuachu’s second full season at Genk saw him finish top scorer with 33 league goals (35 in all competitions), winning him the Golden Bull for leading all others in the Belgian Pro League.
That feat saw him named Pro League Player of the Year for 2020/21, grab the 2021 Belgian Golden Shoe as the best player of the calendar year and he also won the Ebony Shoe for best African starring in Belgium.
He scored against all 17 Belgian league opponents and netted in four of the six Champions Play-off games, while also propelling Genk to runners-up spot in the 2020–21 Belgian First Division A.
Onuachu’s haul of 33 goals was the highest in the Belgian top flight since Erwin Vandenbergh’s European Golden Boot-winning 39 strikes for SK Lierse in 1980 and broke Wesley Sonck’s one-season Genk record of 30, which was set in 2003.
