Lech Poznań winger Ismaheel Taofeek has further burnished his burgeoning reputation in European football after being named Revelation Player of the Year at the 2025 Cool Wealth Awards.
The 25 year old Nigerian was chosen ahead of a strong shortlist of nominees, including Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor), Emmanuel Uchenna (Sparta Praha), Obah Prosper (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Yusuf Abdulazeez (Mjällby AIF), highlighting the scale of his impact over the past year.
Reacting to the honour on social media, Taofeek wrote: “Greatly honoured. Thank you @Coolwealthawards.”
Taofeek’s rise began in earnest last season with Polish side Górnik Zabrze, where his dazzling wing play drew attention and earned him a move to the reigning Polish champions, Lech Poznań.
Since joining The Kolejorz, the Lagos-born flyer has continued to impress, becoming a key attacking outlet and dazzling supporters with his pace and creativity.
His influence has been particularly prominent in European competition, with two goals and two assists in six matches helping Lech secure qualification for the UEFA Conference League knockouts a breakthrough moment on continental stage.
With the Polish Ekstraklasa on its mid-season break until late January, Taofeek and his team are currently in the United Arab Emirates for a training retreat ahead of the second half of the campaign.
The latest accolade confirms Taofeek as one of Nigeria’s most exciting exports in Europe and points to a promising future as he continues his upward trajectory.
EDITORIAL
Ismaheel Taofeek’s ascension from relative obscurity to the cusp of European recognition is not merely a story of personal triumph — it embodies a shift in the landscape of Nigerian football exports. In an age where raw pace and tactical nuance are equally prized, Taofeek’s emergence underscores the invaluable contribution of African talent to the continental game.
At 25, he is at a fulcrum where potential and performance intersect. His transfer from Górnik Zabrze to Lech Poznań was never simply transactional it signalled belief — belief in a player capable of altering games with speed of thought as much as speed of feet. That belief has been vindicated, with his influence in European competition not only tangible but pivotal. There are no small stages in modern football, and Taofeek’s ability to deliver on European nights reveals a psychological maturity that often eludes those newly arrived at the highest levels.
Yet, it is worth reflecting on what this means for Nigerian football writ large. Here is a player thriving beyond his domestic system a reminder that many of the country’s brightest talents find their truest expression in foreign leagues. That is not a critique but an acknowledgment of the global ecosystem in which African players must often carve their paths.
Taofeek’s Cool Wealth accolade should be seen as a milestone, not a culmination. It celebrates a year of excellence, but more importantly, it foreshadows what might be possible if his development continues apace. For Nigerian fans, his story is a beacon for the young wingers in academies across the nation, it is proof that the European dream remains alive, not as a distant mirage, but as an attainable horizon.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Taofeek scored double figures for Górnik Zabrze in his breakout campaign before joining Lech Poznań a key factor in attracting top-flight interest.
- Lech Poznań are the reigning Ekstraklasa champions in Poland, a club with a strong tradition of nurturing attacking talent.
- Nigerian players have featured prominently in the Cool Wealth Awards’ football categories, with several nominees across the past editions.
- Lech Poznań reached the UEFA Conference League knockout stage for the first time in recent memory, with Taofeek contributing decisively.
- The Cool Wealth Awards celebrate achievements across entertainment, sports, and culture, bringing together figures from diverse fields beyond football alone.
