Stats Show Two Nigerians Stand Out In The Bundesliga This Season

Robert Lewandowski, Jadon Sancho and Timo Werner are the three forwards lightening up the Bundesliga this season, but other players have also been excelling in their roles

The German top-flight have seen a lot of brilliant attacking play this season. Still, while the attackers are always stealing the spotlight, the performances of some defenders have gone under the radar.

Among those defenders who have been brilliant but haven’t been noticed are Nigerian stars Jamilu Collins and Kingsley Ehizibue.

Although Collins Paderbon sit bottom of the Bundesliga table, the Nigerian international has been one of the best defenders in the league this season.

The 25-year-old has won 347 duels he’s faced this season with only Sebastian Andersson and Marcus Thuram ranked ahead of him.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Collins has also scored once and provided two assists from his left-back role.  The former Rijeka star has 25 league appearances for Paderborn this season.

Collins is not the only Nigerian defender excelling in the Bundesliga this campaign. Newly invited Super Eagles star, Kingsley Ehizibue, is also one of the top players in his role.

Ehizibue who was born in Germany was scheduled to make his debut for the Super Eagles in an Africa Cup Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, but the March doubleheader was postponed due to the coronavirus.

Nonetheless, he’s shown glimpses of what he can offer with his performances for Cologne this season. Ehizibue has made the most successful takcles (48) in the German top-flight this campaign.

The 25-year-old also has one goal and an assist in 26 league games for Cologne.