Two reasons behind Paul Onuachu’s goal drought

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu is still searching for his first goal of the new season after going five games without finding the net for Trabzonspor, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 32-year-old was one of the most prolific strikers in Turkish football last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions and finishing as the joint-top scorer in the Süper Lig with 22 goals.

His slow start this time around has been noticeable, particularly with Trabzonspor preparing for their Europa League play-off against Ferencvaros.

But while five games without a goal may look concerning on paper, there are two understandable reasons behind Onuachu’s drought.

Two factors behind Paul Onuachu’s lack of goals

1. A lack of attacking rhythm

The first problem is that Onuachu has yet to find the rhythm that made him so dangerous last season.

The Nigerian has featured in four pre-season games and Trabzonspor’s opening league fixture against Kasımpaşa, but the team itself has been inconsistent during that period.

Trabzonspor lost to Eintracht Frankfurt and Al-Sadd before beating Udinese, then suffered another defeat against Göztepe before beginning their Super Lig campaign with a 1-1 draw against Kasımpaşa.

That matters because Onuachu is not a striker who thrives solely through individual brilliance.

Standing at 2.01m, the Nigerian’s biggest strengths are his physical presence, movement inside the penalty area and ability to attack crosses and deliveries. He can hold the ball up and bring teammates into play, but his greatest threat comes when his team consistently gets him into dangerous positions around the box.

That was evident throughout his remarkable 2025/26 campaign. Trabzonspor built much of their attacking play around Onuachu’s strengths, allowing the towering striker to dominate defenders in the box and punish teams with his movement and aerial ability.

When the service is inconsistent, however, his influence naturally becomes harder to see.

It is therefore important not to interpret his five-game drought as evidence that Onuachu has suddenly hit a decline.

While that is inevitable, the more realistic explanation is that both the player and the team are still searching for the attacking rhythm they had last season.

2. Trabzonspor are still finding the right formula

The second reason is closely linked to the first, but it concerns the quality and consistency of the service reaching Onuachu.

The Nigerian is at his best when Trabzonspor can get the ball into the final third quickly and give him opportunities to attack defenders inside the box.

If the team struggles to create those situations, Onuachu can become isolated.

This is one of the reasons why his difficult spell at Southampton was so instructive. The Nigerian’s struggles in England were partly related to a system that did not consistently exploit his strengths.

At Trabzonspor, the opposite was true last season. The club understood what Onuachu could offer and regularly supplied him in positions where his physical advantages became decisive.

That relationship has not yet reached the same level this season. The arrival of Mohamed Salah could, however, change that.

The Egyptian made his competitive debut against Kasımpaşa after coming off the bench in the second half, operating from the right wing and helping Trabzonspor create several attacking openings.

Salah’s presence could be particularly useful to Onuachu because the winger’s ability to carry the ball, beat defenders and deliver into dangerous areas gives the Nigerian another source of service.

Ferencvaros offers Onuachu the perfect opportunity

There is also a psychological element to the Nigerian’s current situation. For a striker, five games without a goal can become increasingly frustrating. Every missed opportunity can add pressure to the next one, while the desire to end the drought can sometimes make finishing less instinctive.

That is why Thursday’s Europa League play-off against Ferencvaros could be particularly important for Onuachu.

Per multiple Turkish reports, the Nigerian is laser-focused on the game as he looks to end his scoring drought and open his competitive account for the season.