Michael Olunga of Kenya is hopeful of ending an already remarkable season on a high note after being nominated for the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Best XI.
Olunga has been recognized among the top ten impressive forwards from the 2022 AFC Champions League.
This marks the second consecutive year that Olunga has been nominated for the ‘Dream Team,’ which is determined by fan votes. The former Gor player played a pivotal role in Al Duhail’s journey to the semifinals of the competition.
Throughout the tournament, the forward scored six goals, provided two assists, and had the highest number of shots (27) among forwards, with 15 on target.
Having been the top scorer in the 2021 edition, Olunga finished third in the goal-scoring charts for the 2022 tournament, behind teammate Edmilson and Daegu’s Zeca.
The 29-year-old showcased his skills with a match-winning brace in a 2-1 victory over Al Shabab, propelling his team into the last four stages. In the group stage, Olunga scored four goals and provided two assists.
During the recently concluded season, Olunga enjoyed a phenomenal campaign as he secured the Qatar Stars League title, the Ooredoo Cup, and the Qatar Cup. He also emerged as the top scorer in all three competitions.
Competing against strong contenders, including teammate Edmilson Junior, who finished as the competition’s leading scorer with eight goals, including a hat-trick against Pakhtakor, Olunga faces tough competition for the final spot.
Also among the nominated candidates is Odion Ighalo, formerly of Manchester United and Al Hilal, who finished as the second top scorer with seven goals.
Other notable nominees include Kasper Junker of Urawa Red Diamond, Bergson of Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, Yacine Brahimi and Yohan Boli of Al Rayyan, Zeca of Daegu, Ikhsan Fandi of Pathum United, and Yu Kobayashi of Kawasaki Frontale.
As Olunga vies for a spot in the AFC Champions League Best XI, his exceptional performances and achievements throughout the season have firmly established him as one of the top talents in Asian football.
