Nigerian goal rain in Belgium: Abdullahi and Abubakar fire KAA Gent II to big win over Lyra-Lierse Berlaar

Nigerian youngsters Idris Abdullahi and Umar Abubakar delivered a scintillating performance for KAA Gent II, inspiring the league leaders to a commanding 4-0 victory over Lyra-Lierse Berlaar in the Belgian First Amateur Division on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Golden Eaglets stars ran riot at the Chillax Arena in Oostakker, with Abdullahi opening the scoring before Abubakar netted a brilliant first-half brace to put the contest beyond doubt.

Lyra-Lierse Berlaar arrived in fine form, unbeaten in five games with three wins in that run, but they were no match for a relentless Gent II side that has now won eight of their last nine league matches.

Abdullahi and Abubakar steal the show

It took just five minutes for Gent II to assert their dominance, as Abdullahi fired past Mats Sterkens to register his ninth league goal of the campaign — already surpassing the two he managed in 15 appearances last season.

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The pressure never relented. By the 19th minute, it was 2-0, with Abubakar finishing clinically to mark his first goal of the evening.

The 19-year-old forward was in no mood to stop there and struck again in the 36th minute, completing his brace and taking his season tally to 23 goals in 26 league matches — a stunning record in his first season at the club.

Abubakar’s consistency in front of goal continues to turn heads, with the former Plateau United wonderkid now scoring two goals in a match for the fourth time in 2025, further strengthening his case for promotion to Gent’s first team.

The win cements KAA Gent II’s position at the top of the league table, extending their lead to eight points over second-placed Sporting Hasselt with 26 rounds played.

Both Abubakar and Abdullahi were part of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets squad at the 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, though their experiences at the tournament were starkly different.

Abubakar was a fringe player, making only two substitute appearances and featuring for just 32 minutes. In contrast, Abdullahi was a key figure, playing all four of Nigeria’s matches and scoring twice.

Watch as Nigeria's Golden Eaglets took the lead in the final of the WAFU B U-17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.
The goal scored by Idris Abubakar Abdullahi off a fine cross from Emmanuel Michael is no doubt a top class goal. pic.twitter.com/2ZrUFf4Ibx

— (@oyosportsnews) June 24, 2022

Nigeria exited the tournament at the quarterfinal stage, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso — a result that denied the five-time world champions a place at the 2023 U17 World Cup.

Since then, both youngsters have made significant strides, particularly Abubakar, who has evolved into one of the most lethal young strikers in Belgium’s third tier. If his red-hot form continues, it may not be long before he earns a place in Gent’s senior setup.