Super Eagles duo Onuachu, Nwakaeme on fire as Trabzonspor's Nigerian trio send message to Eric Chelle

Trabzonspor produced a ruthless second-half showing to dismantle Fethiyespor 3-0 in their Turkish Cup Group A encounter on Tuesday, with their Nigerian contingent once again proving instrumental to the club's success.

The Super Lig outfit struggled to break down their lower-league opposition for much of the opening period, but the introduction of Paul Onuachu at half-time provided fresh impetus. 

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 69th minute when Anthony Nwakaeme threaded a precise pass into the path of Ernest Muci, who made no mistake with a composed finish.

That goal opened the floodgates. Eight minutes later, Nwakaeme took centre stage himself, receiving possession out wide before cutting inside and unleashing a fierce left-footed drive that arrowed into the top corner, leaving the Fethiyespor goalkeeper with no chance.

The rout was completed in the 79th minute when Onuachu, lurking with intent in the penalty area, applied the finishing touch from close range to make it three and put the result beyond doubt.

At the back, recent signing Nwaiwu continued his impressive start to life at the club, delivering another assured performance in defence. 

The 22-year-old centre-back, who completed his winter transfer move to the Black Sea Storm in January, has quickly established himself as a reliable presence in the backline and will be keen to catch the eye of new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.

The win sends Trabzonspor to the summit of Group A with six points from three matches, albeit temporarily, as Galatasaray can reclaim top spot with a victory against Istanbulspor on Wednesday. 

Regardless, the performance has shown Trabzonspor's credentials as genuine contenders for progression to the knockout rounds.

For Nwakaeme, the goal held special significance as his first of the campaign. The experienced winger only returned to action in January following an injury that had kept him sidelined throughout the opening half of the season. His influential showing suggests he is rapidly rediscovering his best form at a crucial juncture.

Onuachu, meanwhile, continues to terrorise opposition defences with remarkable consistency. The towering striker has now found the net 14 times in just 19 appearances across all competitions this term, maintaining his status as one of the most lethal forwards in Turkish football.

Fethiyespor, by contrast, remain rooted to the bottom of the group with just a solitary point to their name, leaving their hopes of advancing in the competition hanging by a thread.

With three Nigerians performing at a high level for Trabzonspor, Super Eagles boss Chelle will have taken note as he prepares to name his first squad in the coming weeks.