Paul Onuachu was recently nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award, and the Super Eagles striker has expressed appreciation for the recognition.
The towering striker made the list of nominees for his incredible acrobatic backheel finish in Trabzonspor’s match against Konyaspor last season.
Paul Onuachu's Jet Li goal against Konyaspor in Nov. 2023 has been nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.
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The 85th-minute goal, which secured a thrilling 2-1 victory, has been compared to some of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s most iconic goals.
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Paul Onuachu speaks following Puskas nomination
In an interview cited by Turkish publication 61saat, Onuachu thanked Trabzonspor’s fans for their steadfast support during his stint at the club and conveyed his gratitude for the honour.
“I had wonderful days there. I always felt the incredible support of the fans. Their contribution to my success is great,” said the Nigerian striker, who currently plays for Southampton.
Onuachu’s strike was nominated alongside other spectacular goals, including Mohammed Kudus’s solo effort against Freiburg and Alejandro Garnacho’s acrobatic finish against Everton, making it a fierce competition.
Onuachu was on loan at Trabzonspor when he scored the goal, following a tough time at Southampton. He scored 17 goals in 26 appearances for the Turkish side before returning to the Premier League club.
This season, he has played 131 minutes across seven games for the Saints but is yet to find the back of the net. However, he made an impression last week against Liverpool, though he was forced off early in the second half.
The Super Eagles striker will hope his return to fitness ushers in a change of fortune as he looks to rediscover the goal-scoring form he enjoyed during his Trabzonspor days.
