Andrew Olsson
February 13, 2026A-League: Former Kano Pillars forward Ifeanyi Eze now at the top of the scoring charts
Photo: Wellington Phoenix FC
A-League: Former Kano Pillars forward Ifeanyi Eze now at the top of the scoring charts
Australia’s top flight A-League is not a popular destination for African footballers. Due to lower salaries, a lack of scouting resources at the clubs for international signings and a lack of visibility, the league is typically overlooked as a desirable destination for rising African talents as well as more experienced African players.
But Ifeanyi Eze is making the league his home at one of the two clubs from New Zealand that take part, Wellington Phoenix. The Nigerian became co-leading scorer on Friday, scoring the equalizer in Phoenix’s 2-2 draw at Western Sydney Wanderers.
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The 26-year-old arrived to bundle in the rebound from close range after Bill Tuiloma’s initial header was saved. Eze’s latest goal leaves him with 8 goals from 17 league matches this season.
“He has all of the attributes I was looking for in an attacker,” Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano said in comments recorded by NZ Sports Wire. “He can score goals, he’s very fast, he can dribble at pace and his intention is to always go forward.
From Akwa United to the A-League
For Eze, who spent his early career in his native country with the likes of Akwa United and Kano Pillars, he has experienced a journeyman club career that is familiar to followers of Nigerian football. Time spent in Libya and Lebanon followed before his breakthrough 2024-25 campaign with Iraqi Stars League club Al Karkh, where he finished tied for fourth on the top scorers chart with fifteen goals.
Eze is certainly enjoying his time in New Zealand even if his latest stop was an unexpected destination:
“I think I’m settling in pretty well. The guys they are good also, they are helping me to settle in the team.
I think it is a big move (moving to New Zealand) to me, you know? Because I really wanted to play in Europe but I didn’t get that, I was playing in the Middle East. I think this is an opportunity for me to play here and also platform to a better league. So in terms of career it’s OK but in terms of my family it is a huge move because of the distance.
Here we (my family) really like it here because we can speak English. My partner as well can speak English, in Nigeria we speak English. Here it is pretty fine for us to be here than in the Middle East it was a little challenging for us because not everyone can speak English. But here it is good, we can speak, not like you guys (laughs) but I can speak and you can understand.”
After gaining his first experience at his new club in a substitute role in the cup competition, Eze played the full ninety minutes on his A-League debut with a goal in a 2-2 draw at Perth Glory.
It has been an adjustment to the new league for a club that is struggling towards the bottom of the table. However, Eze has established himself as among the league’s best goal scoring specialists, which has kept Phoenix in contention for a top-6 finish and a place in the league’s playoffs.
With nine matches remaining in the regular season, three points separate Phoenix from a top-6 position. While the club’s defense is by far the worst in the league, Eze’s goal-scoring exploits are something for the club from the New Zealand capital to lean upon.
The Nigerian’s contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, and it will be interesting to see if he can secure a move to Europe or if he decides to extend his stay in New Zealand.