Chibuike Nwaiwu stars for Trabzonspor after Nigeria omission

Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu scored as Trabzonspor produced a convincing 3–0 win away to Samsunspor at Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadyumu on Saturday.

Nwaiwu returned to Trabzonspor’s starting XI after representing Nigeria during the international break. The 23-year-old made an immediate impact, helping his side secure victory despite being reduced to 10 men before half-time.

Trabzonspor went into the match with two wins from their previous five games, while Samsunspor had not won any of their past five fixtures. However, the visitors quickly took control and turned what had been expected to be a difficult away match into a comfortable victory.

Ernest Muci put Trabzonspor ahead in the 28th minute. Nwaiwu then doubled the advantage 11 minutes later, reacting sharply to a loose ball inside the six-yard box before guiding a clinical finish into the top-right corner.

Dju Franculino completed the scoring in the 40th minute, giving Trabzonspor a three-goal lead before the interval.

The visitors faced an additional challenge two minutes after Franculino’s goal when Melih Kabasakal was sent off in the 43rd minute. Trabzonspor nevertheless defended resolutely after the dismissal and held on to their clean sheet.

Nwaiwu was central to that defensive effort. He recorded 15 defensive contributions, won five of his six duels, completed one key pass and registered 72 touches. His performance earned him an 8.5 rating from Sofascore, making him arguably the standout player on the pitch.

Nwaiwu makes case for Nigeria return

Nwaiwu had been included in Eric Chelle’s 24-man Nigeria squad for the opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Despite being named in the squad, he did not play a single minute in either fixture.

Chelle instead selected Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi as his central defensive partnership. Ajayi struggled during the match against Guinea-Bissau but remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as Nigeria conceded three goals.

Nigeria’s defensive problems were largely linked to tactical and structural issues, although the presence of more dependable individual performers could have helped limit the damage. Nwaiwu’s display for Trabzonspor suggests he may have offered greater stability.

The defender may also have been well suited to the difficult pitch conditions that drew complaints from Chelle and the Nigeria squad. His experience playing on varying surfaces during his time in the Nigeria Premier Football League would have given him familiarity with such terrain.

Saturday’s performance underlined Nwaiwu’s value at both ends of the pitch. His goal was his first of the campaign, while his defensive contribution showed he can provide more than just a threat inside the opposition penalty area.