In the throbbing heartbeats of football arenas across Europe, a tale of frustration unfolds as six Nigerian strikers find themselves ensnared in a web of goal droughts. These forwards are currently grappling with a stark absence of goals in their respective leagues and are on a quest for that elusive strike, PETER AKINBO writes
Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)
Onuachu was very clinical in the Turkish top-flight before his goal drought began as he amassed a total of nine goals in 15 appearances. The Nigeria international was then called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast where the Eagles finished second losing to the hosts in the final.
Since his ninth goal on January 11, the 29-year-old has not scored since making it 103 days since his last goal for his club. Much of this can be credited to injury and international duty but the forward also failed to score during the AFCON and in his four games back for the club, he has not found the back of the net.
Onuachu will be eager to end the goal drought in their next game against Kayserispor on April 20.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
Iheanacho is another striker who started the season with a bright spark scoring all his six goals this season before the end of October.
The 27-year-old bagged five goals in the English Championship and one in the Carabao Cup and all goals were scored in September and October with his last club goal coming on October 21.
It has now been 175 days since the Foxes man last scored for his club and while he was also a member of the Eagles squad to the AFCON and plagued by injury during the season, he has now played 11 games for Leicester without a goal scored.
Like Onuachu, he will be eyeing a goal in their next tie on April 20 against West Bromwich Albion.
Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad)
Sadiq has had a very poor season for Real Sociedad only managing to score three goals in 35 appearances across all competitions this season. All his three goals have come from 25 La Liga appearances as he failed to find the back of the net in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League.
His last goal for Sociedad was scored in a 3-2 win over Granada on March 9. The 27-year-old has now gone 35 days without a goal and his poor goals record means he will be keen to get back to scoring ways.
Samu Omorodion (Deportiva Alaves)
Omorodion has had a good breakout season at Deportivo Alaves as the teenager has bagged nine goals in 29 Spanish top-flight games.
The 19-year-old has been chasing an elusive 10th league goal which will make him the only player of Nigerian descent to score 10 league goals in La Liga for a while now.
His last goal was scored on February 10 in a 1-1 draw against Villareal meaning he has now gone 63 days without a goal.
Akor Adams (Montpellier)
Adams started the season very brightly for Montpellier scoring his seven league goals in the first 10 games bagging three braces along the way.
However, after those first 10 games, he has failed to find the back of the net and has now gone 167 days without a club goal despite not suffering an injury or going for an international competition in that time.
Adams will be desperate to turn things around when Montpellier face last-placed Clermont Foot on Sunday.
Isaac Success (Udinese Calcio)
Success is the most disappointing forward on this list as he is yet to find the back of the net this season for Udinese in the Italian top-flight.
The 28-year-old has played 23 matches for the club this season and has only provided one goal contribution with an assist against Napoli in September. With his last club goal on April 23, 2023, Success has now gone 360 days without a goal for Udinese.
