Top 10: Ranking Nigeria’s best performers at the weekend: Osimhen and Plumptre beaten to top spot

Nigerian footballers lit up the weekend once again, scoring crucial goals and delivering standout performances across the globe, from Europe to Asia.

With so many excellent displays to choose from, it was no easy task selecting the final ten. But here is Soccernet.ng’s pick of Nigeria’s best performers — and a few more who impressed.

Nigeria’s top 10 performers at the weekend

10. Chidera Okoh – Asteras Tripolis II

In Greece’s Super League 2, Chidera Okoh delivered two unforgettable moments to rescue Asteras Tripolis II from a looming 2-1 home defeat, inspiring a dramatic 3-2 victory over Panargiakos.

With Panargiakos clinging to their lead in the final minutes at the Stadio Theodoros Kolokotronis, Okoh equalised with a fine strike before netting the winner just two minutes later.

The 22-year-old, Asteras Tripolis II’s top scorer in his debut season, now boasts 13 goals and three assists, and has already marked his Super League 1 debut with a goal.

9. Chibuike Nwaiwu – Wolfsberger AC

Chibuike Nwaiwu maintained his excellent form, helping Wolfsberger AC to a crucial 2-1 win over Salzburg, boosting their Austrian Bundesliga title hopes.

Deployed once again as a centre-back, the 21-year-old ex-Enyimba star scored the opening goal — his second league strike of the campaign — and kept Salzburg’s attack at bay.

The win lifts Wolfsberger to third, within three points of joint leaders Austria Vienna and Sturm Graz, with four games left in the Championship round.

8. Edna Imade – Granada

Edna Imade returned to scoring form with the decisive goal in Granada’s 2-1 away win at Deportivo de La Coruña.

After Deportivo led through Millene Cabral’s 20th-minute strike, Granada equalised midway through the second half before Imade pounced in the 75th minute for her 14th league goal of the season.

Imade now ranks second on the Spanish Primera División Femenina scoring charts, behind only Barcelona’s Ewa Barbara Pajor.

7. Nathan Tella – Bayer Leverkusen

Although Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title defence looks over with Bayern Munich closing in, Nathan Tella remains determined to finish strong.

The Nigerian international was influential in a 2-0 win over Augsburg, setting up the first goal for Patrik Schick inside 13 minutes.

Tella, who had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside, has now recorded two goals and three assists in the Bundesliga this season.

6. Moses Cobnan – Krasnodar

Nine years after Ahmed Musa led CSKA Moscow to glory, another Nigerian winger is chasing a Russian Premier League title.

Moses Cobnan scored the opener in Krasnodar’s thrilling 3-2 win over Dynamo Makhachkala, taking his tally to four goals and one assist in 21 appearances.

Krasnodar sit atop the table with 58 points, four ahead of Zenit, with just four games remaining. Victory would secure the club’s first-ever major trophy, with Cobnan playing a major role.

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5. Igoh Ogbu – Slavia Prague

Super Eagles invitee Igoh Ogbu is now a champion in the Czech Republic, anchoring Slavia Prague’s defence in a commanding 5-0 win at Sigma Olomouc to clinch the league title.

Adding to his Czech Cup triumph in 2023, Ogbu featured in 22 matches this season, scored twice, and helped establish Slavia’s defence as the best in the league.

4. Alex Iwobi – Fulham

Alex Iwobi’s career-best season continues to sparkle after he provided an assist in Fulham’s 2-1 comeback victory at relegated Southampton.

Iwobi’s season stats now stand at nine goals, six assists, and 47 chances created in 34 Premier League appearances — an outstanding return for the former Arsenal man.

3. Ashleigh Plumptre – Al-Ittihad

Ashleigh Plumptre ended the Saudi Women’s League season in sensational style, scoring twice and providing two assists in Al-Ittihad’s 6-0 thrashing of Eastern Flames.

Plumptre finished the campaign with five goals and six assists, helping Al-Ittihad secure seventh place with 25 points from 18 matches — a remarkable return for a defender.

2. Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen underlined his status as one of the world’s top strikers, netting one goal and assisting another in Galatasaray’s emphatic 5-1 away win against Eyüpspor.

The Napoli loanee now boasts 31 goals and eight assists this season, matching his record-setting 2023 when he fired Napoli to their first Serie A title in three decades.

Already Turkey’s standout player, Osimhen is on course to win the Super Lig title, Turkish Cup, top scorer award, and MVP honours this season.

Yet, he narrowly misses out on the top spot this week.

1. Remo Stars – Nigeria

Taking this week’s number one spot are the history-makers — Remo Stars — after sealing their first-ever Nigerian league title.

Olamilekan Adedayo’s stunning long-range goal in the 84th minute earned a 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes and secured the crown.

Credit also goes to coach Daniel Ogunmodede, who has masterminded Remo’s remarkable rise over recent seasons, and to founder Hon. Kunle Soname, whose vision has built one of Nigeria’s finest privately-run clubs.

This title is the first time in 25 years that a privately-owned club has been crowned Nigerian champions — a magnificent achievement worth celebrating.

Honourable Mentions

Leon Ayinde (Rochdale): Scored and assisted in Rochdale’s 5-1 thrashing of Hartlepool United in England’s National League.

Umar Abubakar (Gent II): Netted twice for Gent’s reserve team, taking his tally to 21 goals in 27 matches in Belgium’s First Amateur Division.

Ibrahim Gbadamosi (Al Zawra’a): Starred with a brace in Al Zawra’a’s 3-0 victory over Naft Al-Basra in Iraq.

Chinedu Geoffrey (Astana): Scored both goals in Astana’s 2-1 win over Atyrau, maintaining their unbeaten start to the Kazakhstan Premier League.