Watch: Forgotten Super Eagles striker denied potential Puskas Award contender by bizarre referee decision

Super Eagles striker Kayode Olarenwaju was denied a potential Puskas Award contender in Erokspor’s 3-1 win over Ankaragucu on Monday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Kayode has been enjoying a Renaissance at Turkish Lig 1 club Erokspor since his scandal with his wife last year. The Super Eagles striker has registered five goals in 12 league appearances this season.

Kayode was on the scoresheet for his side on Monday, when they beat strugglers Ankaragucu 3-1 at the IBB Esenler Stadyumu on Monday. He scored the second goal in the 35th minute, 17 minutes after Junior Fernandes scored the opener for Erokspor.

However, Kayode could have easily walked out of the game with a brace if he had not been denied a legitimate goal.

In the 74th minute of the game, the Super Eagles striker capitalized on a defensive mistake and struck the ball one-time from the middle of the pitch before getting fouled by an Ankaragucu player. Kayode’s effort flew over the goalkeeper before dipping into the net.

But shockingly, the Super Eagles star’s goal was chalked off as the referee insisted that he blew his whistle while the ball was still in the air. He then showed a red card to Mert Certin, the Ankaragucu defender who fouled Kayode.

However, it was a big goof from the referee as he did not move the whistle to his mouth immediately after the foul. So he could have still waved an advantage for Erokspor.

Watch Kayode Olarenwaju’s goal

Esenler Erokspor’da Kayode’nin uzak mesafeden attığı gol, hakemin faul düdüğü sebebiyle geçersiz sayıldı.pic.twitter.com/qovh3Hlv3D

— Fanatik (@fanatikcomtr) March 31, 2025

Kayode’s goal was absolutely brilliant due to the difficulty and distance. If it had stood, he probably could be a contender for the Puskas Award at the end of the season.

Who is Kayode Olarenwaju?

Kayode was one of the young stars who emerged from the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, the same tournament that produced Stanley Okoro, Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, Mario Gotze, Son Heung-Min, Isco, Sergi Roberto, Neymar, Shkodran Mustafi, and many other stars.

That tournament opened doors for Kayode, as he went on to sign for European clubs like Austria Wien, Girona, Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City and many other clubs.

The Super eagles striker has spent the last five years of his career in Turkey, playing for Gaziantep, Sivasspor, Umraniyespor, Genclerbirligi, Sanliurfaspor, and now Erokspor.

Kayode has also played for Nigeria across under-17, under-20, under-23, and senior level.