Nigeria is one of the top-performing footballing nations in Africa. The country has made many notable achievements, including winning three African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments in 1980, 1994, and 2013. These feats were possible thanks to reputable names such as Segun Odegbami, the late Stephen Keshi, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, and other Super Eagles legends. This article closely examines the top five Nigerian Footballers of All Time. Stick around.
5. Victor Osimhen
In the last couple of years, Victor Osimhen has been the champion the young generation needs. The star is an incredible forward with the art of proper finishing and an inspiring story. And it is just the beginning as the player is still at the height of his career with no sign of slowing down.
Osimhen has won several accolades, including the Serie A top scorer in the 2022- 2023 season and the CAF 2023 player of the year award. He also helped break Napoli’s dry spell, winning them the Serie A trophy. This player has earned the reverence he receives. He currently plays in the Turkish League.
4. Late Stephen Keshi
Stephen Keshi was the mentee of the well-known Christian Chukwu. Like his mentor, Keshi was situated at the heart of the defense. Thanks to his menacing presence and imposing leadership, he earned the nickname Big Boss Keshi.
He ultimately made 60 caps and represented Nigeria in several international tournaments. Keshi is currently the Nigerian player with the second-highest number of caps. When he stopped playing, he started managing. To date, he is the first and only Nigerian to win the AFCON trophy as a player Iin 1994 and manager in 2013.
3. Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu was built like he was meant to dominate the field. At 6’6, Kanu was a giant in person and on the pitch. His career had a humble beginning in Iwuanyanwu Nationale in Nigeria. However, Kanu was able to transcend this position and become one of the largest names in Nigerian football, achieving successes at Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal, and Portsmouth. He grew in popularity as the player who landed the decisive goals. Kanu captained Nigeria’s Football Dream Team to winning the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
2. Jay Jay Okocha
Jay Jay Okocha is revered as one of the best dribblers in African history. Through his eventful career, Okocha has been able to beat the odds of getting past defenders. He took street-style soccer and projected it into the global scene for several European teams, like PSG and Bolton.
German legendary goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn will never forget what Okocha did to him on August 31st, 1993 when Jay Jay in the colors of Eintracht Frankfurt disgraced Kahn before scoring a sumptuous goal.
While his career was not as glittering as the other mentions on our list, he still deserves the accolades he gets. He was crucial in the Super Eagles’ 1994 African Cup of Nations victory. Plus, he has gained a lot of praise from respected footballers who regard him as a freak of nature.
1. Mikel Obi
If you were a sucker for football in the 2010s, you would know about Mikel Obi. He was an international and local sensation who made strides thought almost impossible. He burst into the football scene in 2005 and came with a large splash. His debut was the 2005 World Youth Championship. The team reached second place, and Obi finished as the second most valuable player, only trailing behind the great Lionel Messi.
Mikel Obi stayed in the highlights after his performance, becoming a star player in Chelsea. Here, the player stacked up several trophies, including 4xFA Cup, 2xPremier League, and 1xCommunity Shield. His other trophies include the 2011-2012 Champion League and 2012-2013 Europa League. Throughout Obi’s Career, he made 91 caps and won an AFCON and Olympic Bronze Medals for Nigeria.
Parting Note
Many footballers have significantly impacted the Nigerian football scene as we know it. There have been varying levels of impact, from recent names like Osimhen to legends like Keshi. This article goes over those that we believed needed to be mentioned. However, our list is not limited to them. Football keeps changing, and recently names like Ademola Lookman are coming to limelight.
Disclaimer: The opinions, views, and information expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of iNaijanow (Bean Creative). The company assumes no liability for errors, omissions, or damages from using this information.
