Forgotten Super Eagles star Kalu ends 25-month goal drought at Lausanne-Sport after Watford struggles

The former Gent ace is grabbing the chance to relaunch his career in Switzerland

Nigerian winger Samuel Kalu has scored his first goal in over two years, putting an end to a terrible period in his career, Soccernet.ng reports.

Kalu scored the opener for Lausanne-Sport in their 2-2 draw with Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne on Saturday afternoon.

The former Girondins Bordeaux playmaker struck a magnificent free-kick that caught goalkeeper Dany Da Silva’s pants down in the 29th minute of the encounter.

The goal was Kalu’s first since he found the net for Bordeaux in their 3-3 away draw at Montpellier on September 22, 2021.

He left the French side for Watford in January 2022 but battled with fitness issues and only appeared in four league games as the Hornets were relegated from the Premier League in May.

Injuries and a bout with the virus condemned Kalu to only nine Championship games during the 2022-2023 campaign. The former Trencin star did not score a goal in a single season for the first time since he arrived in Europe in 2015.

In September, Watford sanctioned his move to Switzerland, where he signed a season-long loan deal with Lausanne-Sport.

Kalu has featured in five games for Lausanne-Sport, earning his second start against the club’s city rivals on Saturday.

Unsurprisingly, Kalu’s club woes over the past two years have affected his chances with the Super Eagles.

A prominent figure in the national team during Gernot Rohr’s tenure, the 26-year-old has not played for Nigeria since 2021.

 

He appeared as a substitute during the Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on matchday one of the qualifying campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Kalu’s last goal for Nigeria was his stunning winning strike that lifted the Super Eagles to a 2-1 win over Benin in November 2019 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.