Taiwo Awoniyi Is 37th Nigerian to score in EPL
Says it is a dream come true for him to score
Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal that gave his club Nottingham Forest their first win in the
Premier League at The City Ground on Sunday.
The goal was also Nottingham Forest’s first goal in the league in 23 years, following their relegation in 1999, and
their eventual return to the English topflight last season.
On his home debut, the Nigerian scored Forest’s first Premier League goal in 23 years in first half stoppage time
by bundling home Jesse Lingard’s miscued shot from Harry Toffolo’s cross moments after West Ham had a goal
disallowed by VAR.
The feat by Awoniyi made him the 37th Nigerian to score in the Premier League.
He is now ranked 31st best in the top list of goalscorers in the competition with Joe Aribo who also scored his
first EPL goal in Southampton’s 2-2 draw with Leeds United at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, Leon Balogun, Kelvin Etuhu,
Mikel Obi, Danny Shittu and Taye Taiwo.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni tops the list with 95 goals and he is followed by former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu who netted 54
times.
Efan Ekoku is third with 52 strikes with Shola Ameobi (43) and Kelechi Iheaancho (37) completing the top five list.
Awoniyi is delighted to have also joined the list of Nigerian golscorers in the competition.
“I’m really happy about the goal – it was a dream for me to score and for the team to win. As a striker you just
have to be ready for anything around the goal. We must say a very big thank you to the fans because from the
beginning they got behind the team and you can see how it kept the team going until the last minute. The win will
give more confidence to the team, and I believe we will have a great season.”
Awoniyi will now be seeking to score more goals and will be keen to score at least 10 goals.
The former Union Berlin player joined the English side from the Bundesliga club earlier in the summer transfer
window for £17.5million, after spending two seasons with the German side–one of which was on loan and the 2021/22
campaign on a permanent deal from Liverpool.
