Nigeria Super Eagles' Awoniyi to battle Mbeumo, 4 others for PL Player of the Month

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi has been rewarded for his fine start to the Premier League season at Nottingham Forest.

Awoniyi has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

He will face competition from five other stars of the month including fellow African, Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford. 

The 26-year-old kicked off the 2023/2024 season how he ended the last - in red hot form. 

A record-breaking start to the season saw him equal a club-record streak of scoring for six consecutive matches at Forest. 

Awoniyi did not stop there as he also broke the record by becoming the third African in Premier League history to score in seven successive matches.

He netted in the pulsating 3-2 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford to join an exclusive list that has Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor. 

“The Nigerian striker scored in each of Nottingham Forest's first three matches, extending his overall scoring streak dating back to last season to seven consecutive Premier League matches, only the third African player to do so,” the Premier League stated on their website.

Awoniyi’s goals, however, only earned the Tricky Tees just one win in three matches so far this season.

The Nigeria Super Eagles star, who has since joined his compatriot on international duty, was not the only player nominated for the coveted award.

He is joined by fellow African and Cameroon’s Mbeumo, who has taken over the mantle of leadership at Brentford following the suspension of star forward, Ivan Toney.

“The Cameroonian has stepped up in the absence of suspended Ivan Toney, scoring a joint-high three August goals, from only seven shots, for unbeaten Brentford,” the PL said about the 24-year-old. 

Other players who were also nominated for their impressive showing so far are James Maddison of Tottenham, Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester City’s Rodri, and West Ham United winger, Jarrod Bowen. 

Fans have until noon on Monday to choose who their Premier League EA SPORTS Player of the Month for August is here.