Super Eagles of Nigeria forward Taiwo Awoniyi and Cameroon star Bryan Mbeumo have both been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August following their brilliant beginning to the 2023–24 campaign.
Awoniyi was in red-hot form in August, helping Nottingham Forest with three goals in their opening three games. The 26-year-old extended his scoring streak to seven consecutive league games going back to the previous season to become just the third African player to achieve such a feat.
The Nigerian forward got his side’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the opening weekend. He scored their first goal in a 2-1 win at the City Ground against newly-promoted Sheffield United for Forest’s first win of the season before scoring their opening a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Mbeumo has been Brentford’s shining light this season in the absence of their star forward, Ivan Toney. The Cameroonian also bagged three goals in the Bees’ opening three games as they ended the month of August unbeaten in the league.
Mbeumo scored Brentford’s first goal of the new season in a 2-2 draw with Totteham Hotspur at the Gtech Community Stadium. He got his second and third goals of the month in a 3-0 victory over Fulham at the Craven Cottage.
Here are the nominees for @EASPORTSFC Player of the Month… ????
???? @taiwoawoniyi18
⚒️ @_JarrodBowen
⚪️ @Madders10
???? @BMbeumo19
???? @kaoru_mitoma
???? Rodri#PLAwards | ????️ https://t.co/z9toFkGBoP pic.twitter.com/aCwp0SzX3B— Premier League (@premierleague) September 7, 2023
The two African duo have been nominated alongside four other players, including West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who ended the month with two goals and an assist; Tottenham Hotspur’s summer signing James Maddison, who scored once and provided two assists; Brighton and Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who helped his side with a goal and two assists; and Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who has already matched his goal tally from last season with two goals and an assist in August.
The winner of the award will be announced next week, as revealed by the league organisers on Thursday.
