Two Nigerian footballers, Samuel Chukwueze and Terem Moffi, have been nominated for the UEFA Europa Conference League Goal of the Season award. Chukwueze, who plays for Villarreal as a winger, made the shortlist for his goal in the Yellow Submarine’s 4-3 victory over Bulgarian club Lech Poznan. Meanwhile, Moffi was nominated for his overhead kick in OGC Nice’s 2-2 draw against Basel.
The other nominees for the award include West Ham United duo Jared Bowen and Declan Rice, Lazio star Ciro Immobile, Erdogan Yesilyurt of Sivasspor, Christian Kouame of Fiorentina, and Riccardo Saponara, also of Fiorentina. The winner will be determined by fan vote.
West Ham United emerged as the winners of the competition, beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final. The UEFA Europa Conference League is a newly established continental competition featuring teams from across Europe that did not qualify for either the Champions League or the Europa League.
Chukwueze has been a standout player for Villarreal this season, helping the Spanish side win the Europa League, and he will be hoping to add the Goal of the Season award to his list of achievements. Moffi, on the other hand, has been impressive for OGC Nice since joining the French club in January, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances.
The Nigerian duo’s nominations for the UEFA Europa Conference League Goal of the Season award are a testament to the growing influence of African players in world football. With their talent and skill, Chukwueze and Moffi are setting a standard for other players to follow and inspiring a new generation of African footballers.
