Top 10 Current Nigerian Footballers
Over the years, Nigeria has been able to establish herself as a top football playing nation. With three trophies from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to six appearances at the FIFA World Cup, and the historic feat of becoming the first African nation to win the Olympic soccer gold in Atlanta, USA in 1996. Also at the age grade competition, the country has done fairly well winning the FIFA U-17 championship five times since winning the very first edition in Beijing, China in 1985.
Though the fortunes of the nation’s football have been dwindling in recent times, nonetheless, we want to identify the top 10 current Nigerian players, no matter what the situation is. The country can still boast of some of the best footballers the world can offer.
Victor Osimhen:
Victor Osimhen is a striker who plays for Italian Serie A club FC Napoli. He is also a key member of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He was born in Nigeria in 1998. Osimhen has a very interesting life story; he was said to have hawked sachet water on the streets of Lagos just to survive and because he was destined to survive, he didn’t allow his early status to deter him.
He began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017. The 23-year-old is instrumental to the Super Eagles qualifying for the 2022 AFCON which was hosted by Cameroon and eventually won by Senegal. He is equally a prominent player for Napoli where he has scored 13 goals in the Serie A. Due to his rising profile, top clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal have been reported to have developed interest in him at one time or the other. Many soccer analysts believe that the former Golden Eaglets striker is the best Nigerian player at the moment.
Samuel Chukwueze:
Chukwueze plays his professional football with Spanish club side, Villarreal FC where he usually wears the jersey no 9. He was born in Umuahia in 1999. Chukwueze is a prominent member of the Nigerian senior national team, the Super Eagles. He normally plays as a winger both for Nigeria and his club. The dashing winger on a good day is a game changer and he has been able to make his mark both for country and club. He was instrumental to Villarreal progressing to the semi finals of the prestigious UEFA Champions League where they lost to FC Liverpool. Before crashing to the England team, the Spanish team had crushed such big giants like Juventus of Italy ad Ream Madrid of Spain.
Chukwueze pockets £15,000 per week.
Before joining Villarreal, Chukwueze had played for two youth teams in Nigeria, New Generation Academy and Diamond Football Academy.
Kelechi Iheanacho:
Kelechi Iheanacho plies his professional trade with Leicester FC of England. ‘Nacho’ or ‘Senior Man’ as his fans fondly call him is equally a regular member of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the 2015–16 season. He moved to Leicester City in 2017 for a reported £25 million fee. Many analysts had criticized the player for joining Man city, a club described as too big for the player at that time.
Before joining City, Iheanacho was instrumental to Nigeria winning the 2013 youth championship in Dubai. The Leicester City prolific striker has played 167 times for his club with 37 goals and 20 assists.
Wilfred Ndidi:
Wilfred Ndidi was born in Lagos on 16 December 1996. The defensive midfielder is equally crucial for both his club Leicester City and country, Nigeria. Ndidi is known for his defensive prowess and long-range passes. He is strong with the ball and rated as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. Ndidi started his football career at Nath Boys Academy and became their best player. Soon after, he was surprised when called up to represent Nigeria at the 2013 African U-17 Championship. He came into the tournament as a central midfielder, thanks to his utility role. Due to his proficiency, he was promoted to the national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles and he was part of the squad that went to Istanbul, Turkey during the World Youth Championship also in 2013.
For the Super Eagles, he is a regular and many analysts have hinged the defeat of the national side by the Black Stars of Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifier to his absence due to an injury. The injury sideline which will last till the end of the season has also even blamed as one of the factors that led to the ouster of City by Italian Serie A side FC Roma in the semi final of the Europa Cup. Before joining Leicester, Ndidi played for Danish side, Genk.
Joe Aribo:
Joe Aribo is a Nigerian player who currently plays for Rangers FC of Scotland. The midfielder started his club career at Staines Town before teaming up with Charlton Athletic where he spent four years. Aribo who was born in England made his debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly game with Ukraine in 2019. That game ended in a 2-2 draw with Aribo scoring a goal on his first outing for his country. With that feat, he joined the prestigious list of players that scored on their international debut for Nigeria. This includes Teslim “thunder” Balogun, Brian Idowu, Julius Aghahowa, Finidi George, Victor Agali and Obafemi Martins.
Despite the failure of the Super Eagles to have overcome the Black Stars of Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifier, many football analysts still reckon with Aribo who was indeed one of the few players that gave their all to the game.
Interestingly, due to his dedication ad proficiency, both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are bidding to take the Nigerian away from Rangers.
Troost Ekong:
Troost Ekong is the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He currently plays his professional football with Watford FC. He was born in the Netherlands into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family He was eligible for both the Netherlands and Nigeria in international football, but he chose to play for the country where his father comes from.
Born in 1993, Ekong has played for Haugesund FC, Bursaspor and Udinese before joining Watford.
The defender who made his international debut for Nigeria against Chad in 2015 has recorded 56 caps for the country. Unfortunately, his club, Watford has been relegated to the second tier Championship.
Ekong is married to his age-long girlfriend, Bambi.
Oghenekaro Etebo:
Oghenekaro Etebo was born in 1995. He plays his professional football with Watford FC of England. He had earlier played for Warri Wolves in Nigeria, Feirense FC of Portugal and Stoke City of England. The midfielder is equally a regular with the Super Eagles since he made his debut in July 2013. He is one of the players that can turn the course of a game on a good day.
While playing for Warri Wolves, Etebo scored 17 goals in his first season including a memorable hattrick against Wikki Tourists. One interesting thing about that feat is that he got all three goals within the first 25 minutes of the game. He is strong on the ball and has the energy to run with his opponents.
Unfortunately, his team Watford has been relegated to the English second tier league, the Championship.
Etebo is married to his beautiful wife, Bethel Ebhota and they are blessed with two lovely children.
Maduka Okoye:
Maduka Okoye is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He presently plays for Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam, though on loan from Premier League club Watford. He is the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper. Okoye was born in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1999 to a Nigerian father and a German mother. Unknown to many fans, Maduka’s father is a brother to the father of the P-Square music icons, Peter and Paul Okoye. This means that the goalkeeper and the musicians are direct cousins. Okoye was absent at the crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana in Abuja. However, many fans believed that the handsome Okoye feigned sickness to avoid another backlash after his error forced Nigeria out of the AFCON 2022 game against Tunisia.
Many analysts believe that with the recent relegation of his parent club Watford, Okoye may push for a permanent deal at Rotterdam or a move to another club.
Simon Moses:
Moses Simon was born in 1995 in Jos. The Nigerian international footballer also plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Nantes in France. Before moving abroad, Moses was close to signing with Nigeria Premier League side, Kaduna United, when Ajax, who had been closely following his progress, invited him to train with them. With the backing of his coach, the then 18-year-old Moses left for Europe to start a successful football career spanning up to today. After Ajax, Simon also had stints with FC Trencin, Gent and Levante. Moses Simon is a crucial member of the Super Eagles and his contributions to the last AFCON championship in Cameroon was indeed outstanding irrespective of the fact that Nigeria crashed out in the first round.
The attacking midfielder on December 29, 2015, married his age long girlfriend, Ibukun Sarah Adenuga. Together they have two adorable daughters. They welcomed their first daughter in 2018 and their second daughter in 2020.
Alex Iwobi:
Alex Iwobi was born in Lagos in 1996. At the age of four, his parents relocated with him to England where he later became a member of Arsenal junior team at the age of eight. He had played for the English junior team in the under 16, 17 and 18 level in international football. Iwobi made his debut in the League Cup for Arsenal in the Round of 16 followed by his Premier League debut in a win over Swansea City. He played his first Champions League match as a substitute against Bayern Munich. He was a regular playing member of the Arsenal squad and in 2017; he was part of the team that won the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
Iwobi made his international debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly match against DR Congo. He was also part of the squad that qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The winger who now plays for Everton began playing for the senior Arsenal team at the age of 17. He made 149 appearances, scored 15 goals and won the FA Cup in 2017 for the Gunners. He has equally remained a prominent member of the Super Eagles where he has scored some vital goals for the nation. Alex is a nephew to former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.
