From Israeli Youth League to Romanian Top Scorer: Quadri Taiwo's Journey

Quadri Taiwo, a 20-year-old Nigerian forward who previously played in the youth league for Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin, has emerged as the top scorer in Romania's second division. After failing to break into Bnei Sakhnin's senior team, Taiwo returned to Nigeria and was later discovered by Romanian club Universitatea Cluj during trials. He impressed during a preparation match, scoring a hat-trick in the first half of a 4-1 victory, leading to his signing in October 2025.

Taiwo's path to professional football was challenging, marked by a difficult childhood in Nigeria and a dream of playing in Europe. Despite his early success in trials and a winning goal in his official debut, he faced significant hurdles, including visa issues and registration delays, which prevented him from playing in the Superliga for Cluj. He was subsequently loaned to CSM Resita in the second division for the remainder of the season, but did not make a single official appearance.

In July 2026, Taiwo was loaned again, this time to newly promoted second-division side Popesti-Leordeni. This move proved to be a turning point. Taiwo began consistently scoring after coming off the bench, netting five goals in his first four appearances without starting a single game. His remarkable performance culminated in a standout match against his former loan club, Resita, where he scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win, avenging his previous lack of opportunity.

Following his hat-trick, Taiwo was named to the Romanian second division's Team of the Month for August. He earned a starting spot in September and scored a brace in a 3-2 victory, bringing his season total to seven goals. By the league's break, he had scored nine goals in eight games, solidifying his position as the league's top scorer. Taiwo's journey from Israeli youth football to becoming a leading scorer in Romania in just over a year highlights his resilience and determination at the age of 20.