Southampton striker Oyekunle on the brink of equalling U18 PL record held by Man Utd's Chido Obi

Highly-rated Nigerian attacker Nicholas Oyekunle enhanced his burgeoning reputation by inspiring Southampton to a 4-2 win over West Ham United in an U18 Premier League South clash on Tuesday afternoon at Staplewood Training Ground.

Oyekunle has been on fire this season, and he's the leading marksman in the U18 Premier League with 25 goals to his name in twenty-one matches. 

His brace against the Hammers took his overall tally in the U18 Premier League to 36 goals in 53 games.

Oyekunle is now one goal away from matching the all-time U18 Premier League goalscoring record held by another striker of Nigerian descent, Chido Obi who scored 37 goals in 26 games before earning promotion to Manchester United's development squad. 

The Southampton forward bagged four goals during the 2022-2023 campaign and finished with seven goals the following season.

Against the Hammers, the young Saints raced into an early two-goal lead through strikes from Korban McMullan and Oyekunle, but the visitors hit back with goals from Joe Scanlon and Josh Landers, sending both teams into the break level.

Southampton regained the lead against the run of play through Harry Gathercole on 73 minutes before Oyekunle sealed it with a stoppage-time penalty.

The Saints are topping the provisional U18 Premier League South table with 39 points from 22 games. 

Oyekunle is in the running for the Male Rising Star accolade at the Nigeria UK Sports Award, with Oluwajomiloju Aminu, Charles Agbawodikeizu, Chido Obi and Jade Cole also vying for the prize.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: southamptonfc.com

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