The 2022-23 Premier League season is nearing its climax with four matchdays to go.
It is a season that has increased the competitiveness of the English top-flight, with the battle for the title, top four and survival from relegation yet to be decided, adding further to the unpredictability of the mentioned outcomes.
Eight Nigerians have played a big part in this very intriguing campaign and Afrosport ranks the best to the least of them.
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
The 26-year-old started the season on the fringes, making mostly cameos for much of the first half of the campaign.
His form began to change at the beginning of 2023, starting with his goal in the FA Cup third-round win over Gillingham, continuing his reputation as the player with the most goals in the competition since he netted his first back in 2016.
Leicester have struggled in the Premier League this term and are in danger of playing in the Championship for the first time since 2014. One thing that has however stood out is that Iheanacho has scored in all of the Foxes’ Premier League wins this year.
His tally of five goals coupled with two assists makes him the highest-scoring Nigerian in the English top flight this season.
2. Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
The Ilorin native has been one of the standout players for Forest since making his move from Union Berlin last summer.
Awoniyi settled in immediately, netting the club’s first Premier League goal in 23 years in a 1-0 win over West Ham United in the second game week. He added that up with another against his former side Liverpool in a 1-0 win as well.
Though a groin injury has blighted Awoniyi for much of 2023, he returned to the side at the start of April and is helping them in their push to avoid relegation.
Overall, Awoniyi has scored four goals and provided one assist, making him the second-highest-scoring Nigerian in the Premier League this season.
3. Alex Iwobi (Everton)
The former Arsenal man has been ever-present for the Toffees, completing 90 minutes in the 34 games played so far.
Such is the importance of Iwobi to the Everton side with his technique, agility, natural fitness, stamina and work rate all playing a crucial role in their survival hopes as they currently swim in relegation waters in 19th place.
Despite Everton’s poor form, Iwobi has scored two goals, the latest coming in Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City. He has also provided seven assists, making him the Nigerian with the most goal contributions in the Premier League this season.
4. Joe Aribo (Southampton)
The London-born midfielder had a fruitful three years at Rangers, playing a pivotal role towards two domestic titles and reaching the UEFA Europa League final.
He made the switch to Southampton last summer and scored in his second appearance in a 2-2 draw with Leeds United and another in a 2-1 defeat to Everton.
Aribo was a regular name in the Southampton team, playing in 18 consecutive league games during the first half of the season. Things however changed at the start of 2023 with a change in manager. He has been frozen out for virtually all of the second half of the season, featuring just twice.
Southampton’s struggles have also not helped Aribo as they sit bottom of the Premier League table.
5. Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest)
After an impressive season at Watford that sadly ended with the Hornets getting relegated, Dennis opted for a move to the East Midlands with newly-promoted Forest last summer.
A partnership with fellow Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi was supposed to make Forest lethal upfront. Such partnership has however not worked with Dennis scoring just two goals all season and providing as many assists.
Sporadic appearances have also not helped Dennis with only six Premier League starts, having been named in the matchday squad 29 times and being an unused substitute on 11 occasions.
6. Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
The 25-year-old midfielder was a key figure for the Bees last season when they won top-flight promotion for the first time in 74 years last season.
He however fell out of favour since he went for the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles last January and never found his place back.
This season when Brentford have improved further and look poised for a top-10 finish, Onyeka has not been part of the story with just five starts in 17 appearances and also being an unused substitute on six occasions.
7. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Often considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League since his arrival from Belgian club Genk in 2017, Ndidi has been a shadow of himself this season.
The Lagos-born man has failed to live up to the high expectations that have linked him with moves away from the King Power Stadium in the past as the Foxes struggle and are under threat of relegation.
8. Paul Onuachu (Southampton)
A player oozing with goals evidenced by his 85 competitive goals in four and half seasons for Genk.
This includes 16 goals this season that currently ranks him joint third in the top scorer’s charts. All these should have made Onchu the perfect signing when he joined Southampton before the close of the January transfer window.
The lanky forward has however failed to inspire at St. Mary’s, with just nine appearances and no goals to his name.
With only four games to play and Southampton sitting rock bottom on the table, hope seems to have faded in seeing Onuachu do anything close to his Genk level.
