Ex-Nigeria international Patrick Pascal applauds in-form Paul Onuachu’s over impact at Trabzonspor

Former Nigeria international Patrick Pascal has praised Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, describing him as a complete number nine and explaining the reasons behind his impressive campaign in Turkey.

The towering forward has been in outstanding form for Trabzonspor, registering 18 goals in 21 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig.

Over the course of his career, Onuachu has lifted league titles in Denmark and Belgium, earning individual recognition in the latter as Belgian Footballer of the Year and claiming the Golden Bull as the league’s top scorer.

He was also on target on Tuesday when Trabzonspor secured a 4-2 victory over İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. in a Turkish Cup encounter, further underlining his importance to the side.

“Paul Onuachu is a very good number nine. He’s doing well in the Turkish league with Trabzonspor and having a strong season, scoring most of their goals and even providing assists. In the national team, he bonds well with everyone,” Pascal told Footy Africa.

“His attitude toward teammates is excellent, and he’s a true professional. I’ve never seen him have problems with anyone in camp. So I’m not surprised by how well he’s performing at Trabzonspor.

“Sometimes in football, changing clubs doesn’t always mean a player will continue performing at their best. A player can move somewhere new and struggle, then go elsewhere and rediscover form. It depends on the coach, the environment, and many other factors.

“Take Mohamed Salah for example. When he was at Chelsea F.C. under José Mourinho, he didn’t perform at his best,” Pascal said.

He added, “But after moving and eventually joining Liverpool F.C., he became one of the best attackers in the world. Environment matters a lot.”

On the international stage, Onuachu also etched his name into Nigerian football history when he scored his first goal for the Super Eagles in a friendly against Egypt.

The strike came within the opening ten seconds of the match, making it the fastest goal ever scored for Nigeria.