Nigerian football fans have always been
obsessed with 'the most prolific goal poacher' debate:
Who is
Nigeria's Best Striker at the moment?
The benchmark has always been who can matchup
with the quality and achievements of Rasheed Yekini, arguably Nigeria's most
outstanding striker of all time.
Ideally, fans would look towards the foreign
based pros and names like Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi
Martins may pop up.
Or perhaps, rising stars: Odion Ighalo, Taiwo
Awoniyi, Isaac Sucess performances may have come to limelight this year. But
not many are aware of the 'unsong' goal poachers in Nigeria Professional
Football League (NPFL).
As at the time of writing, if you ask me, there
isn't any outstanding striker I can point to, among the foreign based pros; a
striker that has been consistent in goal scoring or has outlandish performances
for his team.
But it's different in the Glo Premier league,
where some strikers are already displaying some incredible marksmanship this
season. Here, I present to you:
6 Most Dreaded Strikers in
NPFL - 2015 Season.
1. Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves) is perhaps the most
dreaded striker in the shores of
Nigeria. He plays with so most tenacity and drive for goal. A constant threat
to defenders in the elite league.
Salami has always made the top 3 highest goal
scorers list in the league for the last 4 years now, so he isn't a flash in pan
at all. He has currently scored 7 goals in the on-going season and looking good
to go all the way.
(More about Gbolahn Salami in 2014 CHAN
Miracle)
2. Christian Obiozor (Enyimba) is one striker
comparable to Rasheed Yekini in height and the way he imposes himself in the
game. He is perhaps the most skilled, alround striker that defenders fear.
Obiozor has currently scored 8 goals in the
on-going season and tipped by many coaches to emerge the best player in the
league this season.
3. Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) also known as 'Goal
Machine' emerged the all time highest goal scorer in Nigeria Premier League
with 23 goals last season. He was slowed down this season due to ill health.
Udoh's return to play has been a big boost for
Enyimba. His pair up with Obiozor has been predicted by most pundits to become
the most formidable strike force in the league. He has scored 5 goals so far
this season.
4. Gambo Mohammed (Kano Pillars) is yet another
striker so dreaded in the league. Very fast with the ball and an incredible
eyes for goal. He has been one of the great pillars of Kano Pillars success
these last 3years.
Mohammed has been slowed down this season due
to injury sustained from gun shots, when armed robbers attack the team's bus
earlier this year. He has also scored 5
goals at the moment.
5. Bright Ejike (Heartland) is one of the
revelations of this season's league campaign. He is a rare kind of striker, very
silky and has an incredible way of positioning himself around the goal area to
poach-in lose balls.
Ejike still leads the highest goal scorers chat
at the moment with 12 goals this season.
6. Tunde Adeniji(Sunshine Stars) is a great
revelation this year. Very skillful and has an unusual way of dribbling through
defenders as well as mesmerizing goalkeepers.
Manu Garba, former head coach of Nigeria's U20
national team, said Adeniji will do well if invited to Super Eagles and may turn out to be the
best Nigerian striker in the following years. He has scored 12 goals at the on going NPFL
season.
