Izuchukwu Okosi
Nigeria-eligible striker Folarin Balogun who is enjoying a glorious loan stint at Rench club, Reims from English Premier League leaders Arsenal, on Sunday continued to show why he must be called up to the Nigerian senior national team with his 17th Ligue 1 goal in the French top flight.
The goal may have come in Reims’ first league defeat in six months at the Stade Auguste Delaune as they fell 2-1 to Marseille, but the player with multiple eligibilities who can also represent the USA (birth country) and England (where he was raised) broke a couple of long-standing records.
First, Balogun became the youngest player to score at least 17 goals in his first Ligue 1 season since 1956 after his goal for Reims on Sunday.
READ ALSO: How Balogun Overcame Difficult Moments, Arsenal’s Plans For Super Eagles Prospect – Arteta
The Arsenal youngster also shattered the previous record of 16 goals held by former African Footballer of the Year and AS Monaco legend Victor Ikpeba, who achieved the feat on the final day of the 1997-1998 season.
The player is now one goal away from equaling Glenn Hoddle’s tally of 18 goals in 1988-1989, which made him the top-scoring Englishman in a single campaign.
A first-half brace from Arsenal old boy Alexis Sanchez saw Marseille end Reims’ unbeaten run.
The French outfit had not lost in 19 league matches. The last player to score as many in his first season in the French top-flight was Hassan Akesbi for Nimes 67 years ago. ..
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
