Fantastic Simy Nwankwo Breaks Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s 9-Year European Record

After nine glorious years on the European football circuit, another Nigerian has wiped the Yak’s goalscoring record off the slate

Simy Nwankwo grabbed a spectacular brace to inspire Crotone to a thrilling 4-3 triumph at Parma in the Serie A on Saturday, with the Nigerian’s first strike helping him to rewrite yet another record in the history books.

The prolific Super Eagles striker notched his 18th and 19th goal of the campaign for the struggling Pythagoreans to move ahead of Yakubu Aiyegbeni as the most prolific Nigerian in any of the top five European leagues this millennium.

Aiyegbeni scored 17 goals for Blackburn Rovers in the 2011/2012 Premier League season.

Despite Crotone’s struggles in the Italian top-flight this season, Nigerian forward Simy has been unstoppable in front of goal, smashing goals past goalkeepers seemingly with angelic ease.

The 28-year-old former Portimonense ace has blasted all manners of goals against eleven of his last twelve opponents, including Atalanta, Torino, Lazio, Napoli, Udinese, and now Parma, with only Claudio Ranieri’s Sampdoria shutting him out last week. 

Simy’s best efforts may, however, not be enough for Crotone as the Serie A basement club is one defeat away from returning to the Serie B barely a year after celebrating promotion from the Italian lower league.