Newly invited Super Eagles forward Salim Fago Lawal wasted no time justifying his call-up to Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations as he found the net for NK Istra 1961 in a 1–1 draw against Rijeka in the Croatian league on Sunday.
Lawal was on target in a tightly contested encounter, delivering a composed finish to put Istra ahead before the visitors fought back to restore parity. The goal capped another eye-catching outing for the Nigerian attacker, whose recent performances in Croatia have earned him national recognition.
The 22-year-old’s invitation to the Super Eagles squad for AFCON has been widely applauded, with the forward emerging as one of Nigeria’s in-form players abroad. His consistency and work rate in the Croatian top flight have not gone unnoticed by the national team selectors.
Sunday’s display will further boost Lawal’s confidence as he prepares to link up with the Super Eagles camp, where he will be hoping to make a strong impression and push for minutes at the continental showpiece.
For Nigeria, Lawal’s rise adds fresh attacking options as the team gears up for AFCON, while his continued form in Europe underlines the growing depth of Nigerian talent thriving outside the traditional big leagues.
