Europe's top 10 leagues: Akpom is best Nigerian striker off the bench since start of 2023-24 season

Chuba Akpom is the best Nigerian striker off the bench in the top ten European leagues since the start of the 2023-2024 season.

The Super Eagles hopeful joined French Ligue 1 outfit Lille in the January transfer window, and opened his account for 
Les Dogues in the closing minutes of a 2-1 loss to Le Havre AC on Saturday, February 8.

According to the official website of Lille, Akpom has registered 10 goals as a substitute in the league since the start of the 2023-2024 season, bettered by only three players in the top ten European leagues.

Since the 2023-2024 season began, only Mojmír Chytil (Slavia Prague), Michy Batshuayi (Galatasaray/Frankfurt), and Cristhian Stuani (Girona) have done better, each netting 11 goals as substitutes.

Deep in stoppage time, Étienne Youté Kinkoué gifted the ball to Akpom and he pulled a goal back, the Ajax Amsterdam loanee scoring in his first Ligue 1 appearance for Lille. 

Akpom is the second Nigerian striker to score on his Ligue 1 debut for Lille, following in the footsteps of former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen.

By finding the net in his first league match for Lille, the Hale End Academy graduate joined the likes of Jocelyn Angloma, Henrik Nielsen, Kennet Andersson, Kevin Mirallas, Djibril Sidibé, and Divock Origi in achieving this feat.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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