When Dapo Afolayan, a Chelsea academy graduate, took to the pitch on Saturday, he had a goal – quite literally. The London-born forward, who once represented England’s C national team, has now pledged his international career to Nigeria’s Super Eagles, and he’s determined to make his mark both in the Bundesliga and on the global stage.

Playing a key role in FC St. Pauli’s decisive 2-0 victory over TSG Hoffenheim, Afolayan opened the scoring with an impressive strike that set the tone for his team’s performance. In the 36th minute, he received a pinpoint pass from teammate Jackson Irvine, who skillfully weaved past two defenders. With a composed, first-time finish, Afolayan slotted the ball into the near corner, marking his second Bundesliga goal of the season and sparking celebrations for St. Pauli, who were in desperate need of a win.

Though Afolayan was substituted ten minutes before the final whistle, his impact was undeniable. His goal laid the foundation for St. Pauli’s second win of the season, while super-sub Andreas Albers sealed the result in added time, beating Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper, Oliver Baumann, to secure the 2-0 scoreline.

Reflecting on the win, Afolayan expressed both his personal ambitions and his pride in the team’s resilience, sharing, “We wanted to go out and put in a strong performance today – and it was a strong team performance. We knew how important this game was. I hope I keep scoring and we keep winning.”

After a successful promotion campaign last season, where he contributed to 12 goal involvements over 31 matches in Germany’s second division, Afolayan is now laser-focused on excelling in the Bundesliga. His first goal in the top flight came just weeks ago in St. Pauli’s 3-0 win over SC Freiburg. As he looks to build on these performances, Afolayan’s journey is one to watch, with his sights set on not only Bundesliga glory but also potential contributions for Nigeria on the international stage.