Racing Genk of Belgium striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu took a major step closer to being named highest goals scorer this season in the European country, after he struck home his 20th goal of the season on Thursday night, megasportsarena.com reports.
This means Onuachu is on course to become the third Nigerian player to win the Belgian Jupiler League’s top scorer’s prize, after the feat was enacted years back by two former Super Eagles’ strikers, Tosin Dosunmu and Joseph Akpala.
The former Young Stars of Lagos, FC Ebedie of Sagamu and FC Midtjylland of Denmark towering striker headed home off a free kick after just seven minutes, before he was replaced in the 31st minute, but is now five goals ahead of his closest rival, OHL striker, Thomas Henry, who has 15 to his name.
The 26-year-old Onuachu thus stayed on course to take after Dosunmu, who top-scored in the Belgian top-flight league with 18 goals for Germinal Beerschot in the 2005/06 campaign and Akpala repeated the feat just two seasons later, while featuring for Sporting Charleroi.
Onuachu has already lost out in the contest for the Golden Shoe, but with every passing day of action, he is looking very likely he will be crowned Goal King of Belgium this season, and become the third Nigerian striker to top the goals charts in the Jupiler Pro League.
The lanky lad is also two goals short of matching Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski’s tally for the season after hitting target in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with KAA Gent, as he opened the gate at Luminus Arena by heading home a free-kick from Theo Bongonda in the seventh minute.
Onuachu’s 20th league goal of the season takes him just two less than the current Best FIFA Men’s Player of The Year and leading scorer in the European Leagues, but he made way for Kristian Thorstvedt in the 31st minute.
Bongonda was then handed penalty-taking duties as Onuachu was not on the pitch but the ex-Belgium under-21 international missed from the spot in the 68th minute, thereby leading to a draw for Genk, who are second in the table, nine points behind leaders Club Brugge, ahead of their clash this Sunday.
