Paul Onuachu is playing some of the best football of his career and he is getting a deserved recognition for it, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 31-year-old Nigerian striker has been named in the Turkish Super Lig Team of the Week after leading Trabzonspor to a 2-1 victory over Rizespor, their sixth win of the season.
In that lineup, chosen by fans, Onuachu joined Galatasaray’s Leroy Sané and Beşiktaş forward Rafa Silva in a three-man attack.
The former Genk striker currently leads the Super Lig scoring chart with seven goals in nine matches, ahead of Silva and Galatasaray’s Mauro Icardi, who both have five.
His form in the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season has been spectacular.
Onuachu’s strike against Samsunspor was voted the Best Goal of August, and he received the Player of the Month award in September. He also leads the league in duels won, another pointer to his physical dominance and work rate.
Haftanın En İyi 11’i belli oldu!
— Trendyol Süper Lig (@superlig) October 24, 2025
Taraftarların oylarıyla seçilen 9. Haftanın En İyi 11’i işte karşınızda! pic.twitter.com/FjcZKjkFyM
Onuachu’s movement, aerial prowess, and improved link-up play make him more than just a traditional target man, he has become a complete centre-forward.
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The Paul Onuachu dilemma: Eric Chelle to recall or not to recall
Despite his sparkling form for Trabzonspor, Onuachu remains on the outside looking in for the Nigeria national team.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, left him out of the squad for September and October’s World Cup qualifiers, preferring to stick with players who better fit his tactical philosophy. But that loyalty may now be tested.
Cyriel Dessers is struggling for fitness at Panathinaikos. Terem Moffi is sidelined with injury at OGC Nice, and Tolu Arokodare, once a trusted option, is now spending more time on the bench at Wolves than on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Onuachu keeps scoring and winning individual honours.
Chelle’s Super Eagles next face Gabon in a crucial World Cup playoff in Morocco this November.
The match will be fiercely contested, especially against a Gabon side boasting two sharp forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga.
Nigeria will depend heavily on Victor Osimhen, their undisputed number one striker, but having a reliable alternative will be crucial.
That’s where Onuachu could come in. His record with Nigeria, three goals in 28 appearances, doesn’t inspire confidence, yet this is not the same player who debuted in 2019.
He’s older, sharper, and far more confident. A towering threat in both boxes, Onuachu offers something different: a Plan B when finesse fails and power is needed.
For Chelle, the decision is both tactical and psychological. Recalling Paul Onuachu might not only boost squad depth but also send a message that form, not reputation, determines selection. Nigeria’s qualification hopes could depend on that kind of pragmatic thinking.
If ever there was a time for redemption in green and white, that time is now.
