By our reporter 7.4.2026
Former Super Eagles silent but effective midfielder Garba Lawal said Paul Onuach should have been the top striker in the national team, but he didn’t take his chances.
Onuachu is in fine scoring form and toping the scorers chat in the Turkish Super Lig, but during the Africa Cup of Nations and other international games he still plays second fiddle to Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.
“He is an excellent striker, and his quality is a major reason he’s finding the back of the net consistently,” Lawal told Footy-Africa.
“While some might say his move to Turkey involved a bit of luck, he’s now scoring the goals that eluded him at Southampton.
“If he decides to move on, this current form will serve him well.”
According to Lawal international football is where a striker should show consistency.
“It’s important to remember that national team football is a different ball game.
“Even in my day, we had strikers like Jonathan Akpoborie, who struggled internationally but would return to his club and score a brace or a hat-trick immediately.
“At club level, you have the luxury of time and consistent minutes to find your rhythm. With the national team, you don’t have time to gel; you might only get two or three sessions before a match.
“If you don’t produce instantly, you risk being dropped. At a club, you have the luxury of time and consistent minutes to find your rhythm.”
Onuachu is leading the Turkey league with 22 goals and he is closing in on a major club record at Trabzonspor after another impressive performance last weekend.
Onuachu scored one of the goals in Trabzonspor’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over their title rivals Galatasaray.
If Onuachu can score four more goals before the end of the season, he will set a new record and further cement his place in the club’s history. With six matches still left to play, he has a strong chance of achieving this milestone if he maintains his current form.