Nigeria-eligible winger Oladapo Afolayan registered two goals and one assist for St. Pauli in their 3-0 win over Vfl Osnabruck that sealed their promotion to the German Bundesliga, Soccernet.ng reports.
Bundesliga 2. side St. Pauli got relegated from the German top flight in the 2010/2011 season. Since then, they were unable to find their way back to the top.
However, things have changed for them this season, as they have in outstanding form all the the campaign. On Sunday, they took on Bundesliga 2. strugglers Osnabruck at the Millerntor-Stadion.
They needed a win to seal their spot in the Bundesliga next season, and they got it. Nigerian attacker Afolayan delivered the goods for St. Pauli, as he scored one goal in each half and assisted another to seal the 3-0 win.
That win sealed St. Pauli’s place in the Bundesliga. And with one game to go, they need to win their last game against Wehen to emerge champions of the Bundesliga 2.
Who is Oladapo Afolayan?
Afolayan is a 26-year-old forward, who was born in England to Nigerian parents. Hence, he is eligible to play for England or Nigeria.
He represented England at youth level, but he has not gotten the opportunity to play for the senior team because his career has not blossomed much.
Oladapo has had quite a nomadic career. He started his career in England at amateur side Loughborough, but he eventually moved up to West Ham in 2018. He joined the under 23 side, but he went on loan to different clubs like Oldham Athletic, Mansfield Town, and Bolton, before joining St. Pauli last summer for €600k.
That move has eventually paid off, as Oladapo has registered nine goals and three assists in 30 appearances for St. Pauli.
A Three Lions call-up seems unlikely for Oladapo, but if he can prove his mettle in the Bundesliga next season, he may get an opportunity to play for Nigeria.
