Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has delivered a powerful message to national team coach Eric Chelle through his impressive club performance, scoring his ninth goal of the season in Trabzonspor's dramatic 4-3 victory over Başakşehir in the Turkish Super Lig.
Match Highlights and Onuachu's Crucial Contribution
The thrilling encounter on Monday night, November 24, saw Trabzonspor emerge victorious despite numerous twists and turns. The home team Başakşehir was reduced to 10 men early in the game when Festy Ebosele received a straight red card in the 10th minute.
Despite being a man down, Başakşehir took the lead through Davie Selke's 22nd-minute penalty. Trabzonspor equalized in the 37th minute via Felipe Augusto, but Eldor Shomurodov restored Başakşehir's advantage just before halftime.
Nigeria international Paul Onuachu registered his name on the scoresheet in the 76th minute, calmly converting a penalty after Oliver Kemen handled the ball inside the box. This crucial goal brought Trabzonspor level at 2-2 and demonstrated Onuachu's composure under pressure.
Dramatic Finish and League Standing Impact
The match took another dramatic turn when Ernest Muci gave Trabzonspor their first lead of the game just one minute after Onuachu's equalizer. Bertug Yildirim thought he had secured a point for Başakşehir with his 90+1 minute equalizer, but Muci had the final say, completing his brace in the 90+11 minute to secure all three points for Trabzonspor.
This important victory pushed Trabzonspor to third position in the Turkish Super Lig table, significantly boosting their championship aspirations as the season progresses.
Onuachu's Honest Self-Assessment and Fan Reactions
Despite scoring the crucial penalty, the 31-year-old Nigerian striker expressed dissatisfaction with his overall performance. In a viral video on social media platform X, Onuachu acknowledged that "there is a lot of work to do in the team" and credited the opposition for playing well despite being reduced to 10 men.
"With one man down as a striker, there is not much to do. You just have to find a space, to get a goal for the team. My playing style did not really come into the game, but at the end of the day, I scored a crucial penalty," Onuachu explained.
Super Eagles fans have been vocal on social media, questioning coach Eric Chelle's recent team selection decisions. Many supporters expressed bewilderment at why Onuachu was overlooked for Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare during the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff matches.
One fan @ObongItata questioned: "Proper penalty taker. Why did Chelle drop a hot and better Onuachu for Tolu who is raw and hasn't even scored for Wolves?" Another supporter @Deeneay added: "Onachu would have done a better job than Tolu Arokodare in Morocco for the World Cup qualifiers."
Statistical Dominance and AFCON Implications
Onuachu's latest goal brings his season tally to nine goals in just 12 matches, making him the joint leading goalscorer in the Turkish Super Lig according to statistics platform SofaScore. This impressive form comes at a crucial time as Nigeria prepares for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for December.
The timing of Onuachu's consistent goal-scoring performances presents both an opportunity and a selection headache for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who has previously apologized to the striker for excluding him from the 24-man squad for recent World Cup playoffs.
As the 2025 AFCON approaches, Onuachu's club performances continue to make a compelling case for his inclusion in the national team setup, putting pressure on the coaching staff to reconsider their attacking options ahead of the continental tournament.
