Seven months into the 2022/23 European league season, several Nigerian forwards have stood out, setting new goal records for their clubs. Players such as Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Folarin Balogun, and Josh Maja have consistently found the net, while others have struggled in their scoring roles. Sports Extra’s Johnny Edward examines the forwards currently enduring the longest league goal droughts.
**Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor)**
Ahmed Musa holds the record for the longest league‑goal drought by a Super Eagles forward playing in Europe. The 31‑year‑old winger, the most decorated player in the current Eagles squad with an African Cup of Nations title, three Russian league titles, one Russian Cup and two Russian Super Cups, has gone 23 league games without scoring for Fatih Karagümrük and Sivasspor. His last league goal came against Istanbul Başakşehir on 26 February 2022. Musa, Nigeria’s most‑capped player, has made 106 appearances for Sivasspor, scoring 16 times. It remains to be seen whether he will be selected for Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON qualifier against Guinea‑Bissau next month.
**Simy Nwankwo (Benevento)**
Simy Nwankwo’s career over the past two years has been a roller‑coaster. After finishing as the sixth‑top scorer in Serie A with Crotone in 2020/21, he has failed to rediscover his scoring touch, going 26 league matches without a goal in Italy’s second tier. His last strike was against Spezia on 16 October 2021. Simy has scored 31 Serie A goals and earned four caps for Nigeria, including two appearances at the 2018 World Cup. He is one of only two African players to have netted 20 goals in a Serie A season, a feat he achieved with Crotone in 2020/21, alongside Samuel Eto’o (2010/11).
**Isaac Success (Udinese)**
Isaac Success endured a difficult five‑year spell at Watford, managing just seven goals and five assists in 76 appearances before leaving. After failing to score throughout the 2019/20 season, he is now on an 11‑month league‑goal drought at Udinese. His last league goal for the club, which he joined on a three‑year deal in 2021, came on 24 April 2022 against Bologna. This season, the 26‑year‑old striker has yet to score in 24 Serie A games, though he has contributed five assists. It has been five years since his last call‑up to the Super Eagles, with injuries and poor form hindering his return.
**Samuel Kalu (Watford)**
Samuel Kalu arrived at Watford in the January 2022 transfer window, signed by former manager Roy Hodgson on a three‑and‑a‑half‑year deal from Bordeaux. Seen as a player who could add a new dimension to the Hornets’ attack, Kalu has struggled to replicate his impressive form at Bordeaux. He has made 13 appearances for Watford without scoring and nine appearances this season in the English Championship. Kalu’s last league goal came for Bordeaux against Montpellier on 22 September 2021, marking a drought of 524 days (17 months and 10 days).
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