Awoniyi, Onuachu Lead Attack ; Akpoguma, Bonke Also In Completesports.com Nigeria XI (Aug.)

The new football season, especially in Europe, kicked off in August and many Nigerian players got busy with their respective clubs. Whether in Europe, Africa or elsewhere, Completesports.com has been delivering Nigeria Players Abroad and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players stories to our teeming readers.

From August – the first month of 2021/2022 season, your favourite online sports news hub has started publishing an exclusive monthly Completesports.com Nigeria Team Of The Month, celebrating the standout Nigerian footballers across the world

In this piece, the best eleven selection was based strictly on the respective players’ performances in the month of August 2021.

GOALKEEPER:

Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam)

The 22-year-old shot-stopper kept in all three of Sparta Rotterdam’s Eredivisie fixtures in the month August.

Though the results were not impressive (two defeats, one draw), Sparta head coach Henk Fraser remains confident in the abilities of Okoye as they eye a turnaround in fortune.

DEFENDERS:

Shehu Abdullahi (Omonia Nicosia)

The Super Eagles right-back featured in all four games which Omonia Nicosia played in August which were in the knockout round of the Europa League.

Abdullahi marked his impressive performance for his club with a goal in their 4-2 home win in the third round of the competition. However, Omonia Nicosia failed to progress into the play-off round.

Leon Balogun (Rangers)

Despite not featuring in five of Rangers’ eight fixtures in August, Leon Balogun was outstanding in the three games he played in.

Also Read: ‘We Are Currently Preparing The Papers’- Ike Ugbo Admits Nigeria Switch Is Close

And the most memorable fixture was the 1-0 win against Celtic in the Old Firm derby, in which he was named Man of the Match – a superb performance after he was deployed to the right-back role.

Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim)

It was a month of August to remember for Kevin Akpoguma who impressed in all the four games played by Hoffenheim.

He scored a goal in the 2-2 home draw against Union Berlin and provided an assist as Hoffenheim narrowly lost 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund.

Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn)

The left-back contributed immensely as Bundesliga 2 side SC Paderborn O7 won three of their four fixtures in August, which saw them occupy second position in the league table.

Collins not only helped in his defensive duties, he also had two assists – first in Paderborn 4-1 win at Werner Bremen and another one in the 3-0 win away to Dynamo Dresden.

MIDFIELDERS:

Joe Aribo (Rangers)

The Super Eagles midfield star was in action in seven of Rangers’ eight games played in August.

He helped himself to a goal and an assist. He bagged an assist in 5-0 win at Dunfermline and scored in 4-2 win at Ross County) as Rangers went five straight games without defeat.

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City claimed three wins out of the four games played in August with Wilfred Ndidi one of the reasons for impressive report card.

And quite remarkable among Ndidi’s impressive showing was the win against Manchester City, in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF)

Super Eagles debutant in the game against Cape Verde, was ever present for Swedish club Malmo last month, making seven appearances in eight games.

Also Read: ‘Musa Has 98 Eagles Caps Not 100’ – NFF Admits

His impressive display in the midfield helped Malmo progress into the group stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Moses Simon (FC Nantes)

It has not been the best of starts for Nantes this season, however it has not stopped Moses Simon from displaying his qualities, as he bagged three assists in four games.

His impressive start to the new campaign saw him named Nantes Player of the Month for August.

FORWARDS:

Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin)

After finalizing his permanent transfer from Liverpool to Bundesliga side, Union Berlin, Taiwo Awoniyi got down to business and netted five goals in six appearances, in all competitions, last month.

He is currently second in the Bundesliga top scorers chart with three goals, two short of Bayern Munich striker Roberto Lewandowski.

Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk)

The Belgian Jupiler League top score, Paul Onuach, has continued from where he stopped last season, doing what he knows best, scoring goals.

He made five appearances for Genk in August and found the back of the net three times, one in the Champions League qualification and the the other Belgian First Division A league.