Nwaiwu Brace Fires Trabzonspor Past Karagumruk

Nwaiwu Brace Fires Trabzonspor Past Karagumruk

Nwaiwu Brace Fires Trabzonspor Past Karagumruk

Chibuike Nwaiwu scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half to sink Fatih Karagumruk, with Paul Onuachu adding a goal and an assist in a commanding Nigerian display for Trabzonspor.

Trabzonspor’s Nigerian contingent put on a show on Thursday night. Chibuike Nwaiwu bagged a second-half brace and was voted man of the match by supporters, while Paul Onuachu opened the scoring and set up the second Nigerian goal in a comfortable 3-1 win over Fatih Karagumruk at Papara Park. It was the kind of performance that makes a Super Eagles coach sit up straight.

The result keeps Trabzonspor’s title push alive. They sit third in the Turkish Süper Lig, seven points behind leaders Galatasaray, with their season now entering the stage where every home win counts.

How the Goals Went In

Trabzonspor went ahead in the 20th minute through Onuachu. Ozan Tufan whipped a well-weighted cross into the box, and the 6ft 7in Nigerian striker did what he does: got in front of his marker and powered a header into the centre of the goal. It was clinical.

Karagumruk, fighting to avoid relegation, hit back within eight minutes through Daniele Verde to level at 1-1. The first half ended with the hosts frustrated, unable to restore their lead despite sustained pressure.

Five minutes into the second half, Trabzonspor found a different hero. Nwaiwu, the 22-year-old centre-back who joined from Wolfsberger AC in January, threw himself into an aerial duel and headed home to make it 2-1. Then, barely a minute later, he did it again. This time Onuachu picked him out with a precise cross and the Port Harcourt-born defender connected perfectly for his second header of the half.

Two headers. Five minutes. Both assisted by a Nigerian. That is the Nigerian connection at Trabzonspor working exactly as it should.

Match snapshot: Trabzonspor 3-1 Fatih Karagumruk | Papara Park | 27 February 2026
Goals: Onuachu (20′), Verde (28′), Nwaiwu (50′, 55′) | Man of the Match: Chibuike Nwaiwu

Nwaiwu: From Enyimba to Man of the Match in Turkey

The Trabzonspor fans voted Nwaiwu their player of the match via NFC jersey technology, and it’s hard to argue with the decision. His trajectory over the past four years is striking. He started his senior career at Heartland FC in 2021 before joining Enyimba in October 2022, where he was part of the squad that won the 2022/23 NPFL title. That championship-winning mentality clearly stayed with him.

A move to Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC in September 2024 took him to Europe. He didn’t just settle: he helped Wolfsberger win the 2024/25 Austrian Cup, the club’s first ever domestic trophy, starting in the final. That kind of big-game pedigree at just 22 catches the attention of bigger clubs, and Trabzonspor came calling in January 2026.

When he arrived, Nwaiwu famously said it felt “surreal” to go from watching Onuachu and Tony Nwakaeme on TV to training alongside them every day. On Thursday, he was the one they were all watching.

Onuachu: The Consistent One

While Nwaiwu grabbed the headlines, it’s worth stepping back to appreciate what Onuachu continues to do. He is the top scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig this season with 17 goals in 20 league appearances as of his last strike against Gaziantep on 23 February. He has scored in six consecutive league matches. His 35 Trabzonspor goals across two spells make him the fifth-highest foreign scorer in the club’s history, ahead of legendary names in the club’s history.

His goal against Karagumruk and the assist for Nwaiwu’s second show a striker who is as tuned into his teammates as he is hungry for personal milestones. That combination makes him dangerous and popular in equal measure.

Analysis: Should Chelle Be Watching This?

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has a decision to make. Nwaiwu is 22, plays with composure beyond his years, and is now showing he contributes at both ends of the pitch. Two headed goals from a centre-back in a five-minute second-half burst is not something you see from a defender who is merely competent. That’s someone with real attacking instinct and aerial dominance.

He has represented Nigeria at U23 level, called up for the 2024 Olympics qualification campaign. The question is whether Chelle believes he is ready for the senior setup. With Nigeria’s defensive options constantly discussed and debated, a young, imposing centre-back thriving in a competitive European league is exactly the kind of profile that deserves a closer look.

As for Onuachu, the Eagles case is even clearer. He is the top scorer in Turkey’s top flight, playing week in and week out with consistent numbers. FootballInNigeria.com.ng has tracked his form all season, and the argument for recalling him to Super Eagles duty has never been stronger. Nigeria needs goals. Onuachu is scoring them. It shouldn’t be complicated.

What This Means for Trabzonspor’s Title Push

Three points against a struggling Karagumruk side was expected, but the manner of the victory matters. Trabzonspor trailed for a period, regrouped at half-time, and then won the game in a devastating five-minute spell. That’s the hallmark of a side with belief and quality throughout.

The gap to leaders Galatasaray remains seven points, which is significant with the season entering its final stretch. But Trabzonspor have the firepower to keep the pressure on. With Onuachu scoring in practically every game and Nwaiwu now adding a goal threat from set pieces, their attacking options are genuinely varied.

Fans following the Turkish title race can build multi-team accumulators using Bet9ja’s seasonal bonus, which includes a 170% multiple boost ideal for combining Super Lig fixtures with other European leagues as the season intensifies.

What Comes Next

Trabzonspor continue their campaign with more league fixtures ahead and an eye on the standings. For Nwaiwu personally, Thursday night was a statement. He’s not just here to defend. And for Onuachu, the goals keep coming, the records keep falling, and the Super Eagles conversation refuses to go quiet.

Nigeria had a very good night in Turkey.

📌 Did You Know?

  1. Chibuike Nwaiwu was born on 23 July 2003 in Port Harcourt, making him just 22 years old. His two-goal performance on Thursday night is the first time he has scored twice in a single professional match.
  2. Nwaiwu trained at the Borussia Digitals Sporting Academy in his youth before breaking into senior football with Heartland FC in 2021, having never played for a club outside Nigeria until his 2024 move to Austria.
  3. Paul Onuachu is 6ft 7in tall (2.00m), making him one of the tallest outfield players in European professional football. His physique has made him almost unplayable in aerial duels throughout his Trabzonspor spell.
  4. Onuachu’s 17 league goals this season (as of 23 February 2026) already surpasses his tally of 15 from his previous loan spell at Trabzonspor in 2023/24, showing clear improvement in his second stint at the club.
  5. PSG, Marseille, Leeds United, and Bayer Leverkusen were all reported to be monitoring Nwaiwu during his time at Wolfsberger AC in December 2025, before Trabzonspor won the race for his signature.
  6. Trabzonspor have now had at least two Nigerian players in their starting lineup in virtually every match this season, with Nwaiwu, Onuachu, and Tony Nwakaeme forming one of the strongest Nigerian groupings at any club in European football right now.
  7. Nwaiwu helped Enyimba FC win the 2022/23 NPFL title and then won the Austrian Cup with Wolfsberger AC in 2024/25, making him a two-time champion at just 22 across two different countries.

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