Tag: Salim Fago Lawal

Nigeria forward Salim Fago Lawal is set to complete a move to Czech champions Viktoria Plzeň after an agreement was reached with Croatian side NK Istra 1961.

Sources close to the deal revealed that the 22-year-old is scheduled to travel to the Czech Republic on Sunday, with a medical examination lined up for Monday ahead of an official announcement.

Viktoria Plzeň will pay a guaranteed €2.4 million for the forward, with add-ons potentially taking the deal to €3 million — a club-record sale for NK Istra 1961.

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Lawal is expected to replace Rafiu Durosinmi, who recently completed a move to Italian side Pisa. The versatile attacker has scored six goals in 18 appearances this season and is capable of operating as a central striker or on either wing.

The former Mavlon FC player rose to prominence following his impressive displays at the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup before earning a senior national team call-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

He made his Super Eagles debut against Uganda in Nigeria’s final group match.

Former Flying Eagles forward, Salim Fago Lawal, extended his impressive run this season by finding the net again for NK Istra 1961. In a dominant 5-1 away win over NK Osijek, Lawal scored Istra’s fifth goal.

Istra tore Osijek apart, registering three unanswered goals in the first half and two more in the second. With Lawal’s contribution, Istra underlined their attacking depth and composure in front of goal.

At just 22 years old, the Nigeria-born striker is among the attackers included in the 54-man provisional squad named by coach Eric Chelle ahead of the upcoming AFCON in Morocco.

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Lawal had previously gained attention with the Flying Eagles in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup — notably when the team eliminated hosts Argentina with a 2-0 victory in the round of 16 under coach Ladan Bosso.

In the current 2025/26 campaign for Istra, Lawal has made 15 league appearances, starting 14 of those.

He has scored three  league goals and provided two  assists, giving him a total of five goal contributions so far.