Victor Boniface, Terem Moffi, and Top 5 Best Nigerian Players This Season

• Nigerian footballers in Europe are putting up historic numbers
• Their players, mainly strikers, are making major contributions to their teams
• Victor Boniface has stepped up and is outperforming Victor Osimhen

Nigerian footballers continue to make their mark in Europe this season.

African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, has not replicated last season's performances at Napoli.

However, several Nigerian stars, like Victor Boniface, have become key players in their clubs.

In the 2023/24 season, Nigerian football stars are showcasing their talents on the biggest stages and many times against world-class opponents.

Although Osimhen grabs the headlines every week, several players from Nigeria and across the African continent have outplayed him this season.

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Sports Brief looks at the best-performing Nigerian footballers in Europe in the 2023/24 season.

Top 5 Nigerian stars in 2023/23

5. Terem Moffi - Nice

Moffi is quietly putting together another incredible individual season in Ligue 1. The 24-year-old Nice striker recently cracked 50 goals in the French top-flight. In his four seasons in Ligue 1, Moffi has scored in double digits in three of them.

This season, he has 11 goals in 27 Ligue 1 matches, helping Nice to 5th in the table, with three games left in the 2023/24 season. Two of Moffi's 11 goals came against Kylian Mbappe and PSG away from home. Moffi has been named as a possible replacement for Victor Osimhen at Napoli.

4. Ademola Lookman - Atalanta

Lookman was one of Nigeria's best players at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The Atalanta man was the Super Eagles' top scorer in Ivory Coast. This season, he has 11 goals and seven assists for the Italian club.

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Only two Atalanta players (Gianluca Scamacca & Teun Koopmeiners) have scored more goals than him. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are still pushing for a spot in next season's Champions League, and Lookman's upturn in form could be the key.

3. Victor Osimhen - Napoli

The Nigerian superstar is having a poor season by his standards. After a historic 2022/23 campaign, the 25-year-old Napoli striker has struggled this season for many reasons. Napoli's shambolic title defence, managerial revolving door, and failure to build a strong supporting cast have contributed to Osimhen's drop in form.

Last season, he scored 26 Serie A goals, which were enough to earn him the Golden Boot. This term, he has 16 goals and two assists. 14 of his goals have come in the league. Napoli's are languishing 9th in the table, nine points from a Champions League spot. If they don't qualify for the Champions League, Osimhen will likely leave the club.

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2. Cyriel Dessers - Rangers

Dessers made his return to the Super Eagles after a two-year absence. He is enjoying one of the best campaigns in his career. The 29-year-old has bagged 13 goals in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, who are battling for the title with arch-rivals Celtic. Only three players have scored more league goals than the striker.

Dessers has 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions this term. Rangers will need him to score more goals as they try and catch Cletic as the season endters its final stages.

1. Victor Boniface - Bayer Leverkusen

Boniface has been Nigeria's best player in Europe. His contributions at Bayer Leverkusen have delivered their first Bundesliga title. The 23-year-old has 18 goals and 10 assists in just 30 games in all competitions this season. Furthermore, this is Boniface's first season in a European top five league.

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Despite missing four months with injury, Boniface played a key role in Xabi Alonso's side's historic season. He might end up winning a treble in his first season at the club.

All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt.

AFOTY early contenders

Sports Brief earlier reported on the early contenders for the African Footballer of the Year award.

Osimhen is the reigning winner, but he will likely not defend it this year, considering his underwhelming season.

Serhou Guirassy and Boniface have a great chance of winning the award following a historic season for both.