Super Eagles fans celebrated in February, when the long-awaited
announcement that Ademola Lookman's nationality change had finally
been granted by FIFA.
The on-loan Leicester City forward had represented England at junior
international level, but would now be turning out in the green and
white of Nigeria, and could be doing so as early as next month's World
Cup qualifying games against Ghana.
That change was not enough to see Lookman barge his way into this
month's rankings with top performances across the board.
The undoubted star of the show remained Moses Simon, who nearly
held on to his top spot after another month of solid performances,
including a mesmeric performance against Lionel Messi and Paris St
Germain.

1. Sadiq Umar - Almeria, Spain
Four games, five goals, two assists - it is hard to find a Nigerian player
on a hotter streak than Umar.
He struggled a bit at the Nations Cup. It was his first exposure to
senior international ball, but it seems the experience from the
tournament has unlocked new levels for the former Rangers striker.
He won two penalties against UD Ibiza. The first was converted and
the second saved as the game headed to a nervy end, but the
Nigerian popped up deep in stoppage time to turn a defender inside
out before unleashing a long-range effort to seal the win.
He saved his best for that two-goal performance against CD Mirandes,
where he showed his power, skill and efficiency.

2. Moses Simon, Nantes, France
Watching Simon glide his way past Messi was not a sight many
thought they would see soon, but it was a thing of genuine beauty to
see the world's best player undone by the dainty footwork of the
Nigerian.
Simon continuously peppered the Paris Saint-Germain defence,
constantly shimmying his way through a slew of defenders and ending
up with an assist as Nantes whipped the all star PSG 3-1.
Prior to that, the Nigerian curled in a simple but spectacular freekick
that proved to be the winner against Stade Reims.
That goal and assist were to be the only ones he managed in February,
but Simon was arguably Nantes' most dangerous player during the
period. They went for two wins and one loss in the three games he
featured in.
Clearly, the form he took to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is still
very much in play. Nigerian fans will be hoping that he can keep it
through the qualifiers against Ghana.

3. Anthony Nwakaeme - Trabzonspor, Turkey
How Nwakaeme has only one appearance for the Super Eagles
remains questionable. In February, the wide forward proved once more
that he is one of Nigeria's better players in Europe.
Nwakaeme tallied three goals and two assists as the runaway league
leaders extended their unbeaten run to 11 games in the league and a
17-point lead over second-placed Konyaspor.
Two of those goals came in a 4-0 victory over Alanyaspor and his
month's effort took the Nwakaeme tally to nine goals and nine assists
for the season. With Nigeria's recent struggles in those wide positions,
the Tabzon man could be a viable option for Austin Eguavoen and his
team.

4. Odion Ighalo - Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia
Revenge is a dish best served with goals -- Ighalo proved that when he
came up against his former club Al Shabab, scoring twice against
them in a 5-0 win.
According to Ighalo, to ESPN, the club had denied him a chance to go
to AFCON with Nigeria, effectively causing bad blood and forcing him
to demand a transfer.
So when his old employers came calling for regular league football,
the Nigeria striker punished them.
But those were not his only strikes during the period. Ighalo also
knocked one in a 6-1 win against Al Jazira in the FIFA Club World Cup
and another in the Kings Cup victory over Al Nasser.
- Odion Ighalo reflects on 'dream' spell at Man United

5. Wilfred Ndidi - Leicester City, England
It almost seems to be a given for Ndidi to find his way into this top 10
list, as long as he is fit and playing.
The Foxes midfielder does not score many goals -- not many
defensive midfielders do -- so when he not only scores, but adds an
assist, it is noteworthy. This, added to his peerless work as a holding
midfielder, of course.
Ndidi scored his second of the season -- both goals coming in
European competition -- against Randers in the UEFA Conference
League, finishing off some excellent work by Lookman.
In the return leg, the midfielder was again on hand to set up Harvey
Barnes for the opening goal.
- Africans Abroad: Salah, Mane win first domestic cup with Liverpool

6. Paul Onuachu - Genk, Belgium
He may not be getting the same sort of attention as last season, but
Paul Onuachu has low-key scored 16 league goals this season, among
the highest of Nigeria's strikers in Europe this term.
Three of those goals came in six games this past month, in addition
to three assists in what has been a most productive month for the
beanpole forward after a disappointing AFCON.
His assist against Kortrijk was arguably his best goal contribution of
all, looping a fadeaway header between two defenders and across the
goal into the path of Joseph Paintsil before hitting the post with
another header.
He was just as dominant in the 4-1 win over KV Mechelen, forcing a
tackle from Thibault Peiyre, heading across goal for Theo Bongonda to
tap in before stealing in at the near post to sweep home from close
range.

7. Victor Osimhen - Napoli, Italy
It has been a while since Osimhen has found himself in these
rankings. A combination of injuries, illness and perhaps a bit of poor
luck has hit Nigeria's leading striker.
He returned with some consistency in February after missing nearly
two months of action with a cheekbone fracture.
Osimhen may not be back to his best yet, but he weighed in with two
goals and one assist for Napoli as they made their way back to the top
of the Serie A standings on the back of an eight-game unbeaten
streak. Half of those were in February.
None of those goals were as important as the late one he scored
against Cagliari to rescue a desperately-needed point, which proved
enough to keep their noses ahead of AC Milan on goal difference.

8. Zaidu Sanusi - FC Porto, Portugal
Sanusi returned from AFCON and walked straight back into the FC
Porto team like he never left. And for good reason. The left back has
shown improved form this season, and he continued to do so in
February as Porto kept their unbeaten run to the season, finishing the
month with a six-point lead.
He was particularly impressive in a 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon,
making three tackles and hitting the woodwork.

9. Yira Sor - Slavia Prague, Czech Republic
Not many Nigerians would have heard of this 21-year-old former
Nigeria junior international. The forward has featured only 17 times
this season in the league for Slavia Prague, where Peter Olayinka is
the more well known of the Nigerians, and has yet to see a full 90
minutes.
But Sor announced himself in their UEFA Europa Conference league
fixture against Turkish giants Fenerbahce, providing an assist in a 3-2
away win in the first leg before putting a stamp on it with two goals in
another 3-2 win over the Turkish side, this time at home.

10. Ishaq Rafiu - Rivers United, Nigeria
Rafiu has 10 goals so far for Rivers United and is the leading scorer in
the Nigeria Professional Football League with 15 rounds of matches
played.
The United striker plundered three of those goals in February, scoring
a brace in a 2-1 win over Dakkada FC before rounding up the month
by adding another against Nassarwa United.

https://africa.espn.com/football/nigeria-nga/story/4606894/nigeria-power-rankings-red-hot-sadiq-umar-upstages-moses-simon?device=featurephone

mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala seun

My Chelsea pls replace LUKAKU with SADIK abeg!!!

Yet non of them could do any tin against Tunisia