- With the 2022/2023 football season in full swing, EaglesTracker has put together a power ranking of the best-performing Nigerian players by position in Europe's top leagues for February 2023.
GOALKEEPERS
1. Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem)
Adeleye has been fantastic for Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Ligat ha'Al, conceding only 19 goals in 19 appearances while keeping eight clean sheets.
Two of the 22-year-old goalkeeper's clean sheets came in four league games in February, sealing for him the best gloves of the month on this ranking.
2. Arthur Okonkwo (Sturm Graz)
On loan from Arsenal, Okonkwo has adapted smoothly to life in Austria. The 21-year-old shot-stopper helped Sturm Graz to victory in two of the three games he featured in the Bundesliga to take his spot on this prestigious list.
3. Dele Alampasu (Jura Dolois Foot)
Alampasu joined Jura Dolois in the N3 - Bourg.-Fr.-Comté - France fifth-tier - in the winter and has quickly established himself as one of the club's key stars.
DEFENDERS
1. Bruno Onyemaechi (Bruno Onyemaechi)
Boavista signed Onyemaechi on loan from Feirense last summer, and he has proven to be one of their best signings in recent times.
The defender took his performances a notch higher in February as he helped Boavista keep a clean sheet against Casa Pia and provided an assist in the 3-1 win over Paços Ferreira.
2. Hamdi Akujobi (Almere City FC)
Predominantly a right-back, Akujobi has featured in 24 league matches for Almere City in the Dutch second tier since joining from Heerenveen in the summer. Almere City kept three clean sheets in four league games in February, with Akujobi playing every minute.
3. Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague)
Former Rosenborg ace, Ogbu arrived in Slavia Prague in January for €2.50 million, and he has been one of the club's best players since. Ogbu helped Slavia concede only one goal in three league games last month.
MIDFIELDERS
1. Alex Iwobi (Everton FC)
While Everton struggled for form in the English Premier League, Iwobi continued contributing to his status as one of the Toffees' best stars.
The 26-year-old is the club's most creative player with seven assists, adding one more - for the winning goal - in the 1-0 win over Leeds United - one of Everton's two league wins in February.
2. Kelechi Nwakali (SD Ponferradina)
Ponferradina did not win any of their four league games last month, but Nwakali was an ever-reliable presence in the middle for the Segunda Division side.
3. Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris FC)
After enduring a disappointing season in England last season, Etebo has rediscovered his best form for Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League 1.
The 27-year-old impressed as Aris won two of the three league games he was involved in during the month.
FORWARDS
1. Victor Boniface (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise)
After a quiet January, Boniface got his goalscoring groove back the following month to find the net four times in four league matches.
2. Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF)
In his most productive season, Chukwueze has ten goals and ten assists for Villarreal in all competitions.
Five of those impactful contributions have come in his last three matches, including the goal and assist in the 2-1 win at home to Getafe.
3. Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague)
Olayinka's eight goals and four assists in 16 league games have aided Slavia Prague's push toward winning the Czech Liga.
The Super Eagles winger scored both goals in Slavia's 2-0 win over Slovacko in the last match in February.
STRIKERS
1. Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli)
Osimhen has been the standout performer in the Italian Serie A this season. He has been winning many individual awards, including the honour of being the Best Foreign Athlete in Italy in 2022.
The Napoli star scored in every match in February, with Spezia, Cremonese, Sassuolo, Empoli, and Frankfurt - in the Champions League - unable to stop the 24-year-old.
2. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City FC)
Iheanacho was the catalyst behind Leicester City's only two victories in February, providing one goal and two assists in the win over Aston Villa and one goal and one assist in the demolition of Tottenham.
3. Odion Ighalo (Al Hilal Saudi FC)
Ighalo had a February to remember, scoring six goals in five matches, including four against Al Duhail to power his Al Hilal to the final of the AFC Champions League.
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