Top 10 footballers in Nigerian football History

Over the years Nigeria has produced some exceptional football talents who have made huge impacts on sports in both Nigeria and Europe, from the golden generation of the 1990s to the current crop of stars.

Nwankwo Kanu

He stands out as a beacon of African football, dazzling fans with his skill and grace. A pivotal player for Arsenal's legendary 'Invincibles,' Kanu’s accolades include a UEFA Champions League title and an Olympic gold medal, marking him as one of the continent's greatest. He was a member of the Nigeria national team, and played for Nigerian club Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.

Jay Jay Okocha

He mesmerized audiences with his mesmerizing dribbles and creativity, earning 73 caps for Nigeria. He played in a number of leagues, starting his career at Enugu Rangers in the Nigerian Professional Football League before moving to Borussia Neunkirchen in the Oberliga Südwest, Germany's third division, in July 1990. He played in the Bundesliga, Super League, Ligue 1, Premier League. League, EFL Championship and Qatar Stars League before retiring in 2008.

Rashidi Yekini

The nation's all-time top scorer, made history as Nigeria’s first goalscorer in World Cup history. His powerful presence on the field and remarkable goal tally secured his legacy in the hearts of fans. His career, which spanned more than twenty years, was mainly associated with Vitoria de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries in addition to that. As an international footballer, Yekini scored 37 goals representing the country in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored he scored the country's first goal in the tournament. He was also named African player of the year in 1993.

Stephen Keshi

A dual force as player and coach, led Nigeria to Africa Cup glory, becoming a symbol of leadership and resilience. His journey from defender to national coach inspires generations. While he played, Keshi was a defender and represented the Nigeria national team 60 times. This made him the second player with the most appearances for his country when he stopped playing. He played for the country in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, where he led the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup. He also played club football in five countries, especially in Belgium, where he won the Belgian league championship with R. SC Anderlecht in 1991.

Sunday Oliseh

Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh is a Nigerian football coach and a former defensive player. He was strong and skilled, playing for famous European teams like Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus. He is thought of as one of the greatest African midfielders ever.

Vincent Enyeama

The agile goalkeeper, defied expectations, earning accolades as one of the greatest in his position. In his nearly 20-year career, Enyeama played for Ibom Stars, Enyimba, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Lille, and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He played for the Nigeria national team from 2002 until October 2015. He was the captain from 2013 until he stopped playing for the team in 2015. He held the record for the most games played for Nigeria with 101 appearances until November 2021, when Ahmed Musa passed him.

Joseph Yobo 

They were stalwarts in defense and midfield, respectively, each contributing significantly to Nigeria’s international successes and club triumphs. He played at Everton, Fenerbahçe, and Norwich City. He was the captain of the Nigerian national soccer team until he retired from international football in June 2014, and he holds the record for the most games played for Nigeria. In February 2020, the Nigeria Football Federation made him the assistant coach of the Super Eagles.

John Mikel Obi

John Obi Mikel is a retired Nigerian football player who played as a defensive midfielder. Mikel started playing football for a local team called Plateau United. When he was 17 years old, in 2004, he joined a team in Norway called Lyn. In 2006, he moved to the English team Chelsea, which caused a lot of disagreement because Manchester United said they had already signed him. He was with Chelsea for 11 years and won many titles, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League in 2011-2012. After leaving Chelsea, he played for a short time at Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, and Stoke City. During his 14-year international career from 2005 to 2019, he played 91 games for Nigeria and scored six goals.

Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa is a Nigerian football player who plays as a forward and winger for the Nigeria national team. He is currently playing for Kano Pillars FC in the Nigerian Premier League for the second time and scored two goals in his first game back. Musa was the first Nigerian to score two goals in a FIFA World Cup game. He did this when he scored twice against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup. Musa is the first Nigerian player to score goals in two FIFA World Cups. He scored two goals against Iceland during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. He has played 108 times, making him Nigeria's player with the most games since November 2021. Musa was part of the Al Nassr team from Saudi Arabia that won the Saudi Premier League and the Saudi Super Cup in 2019.

Taribo West

Taribo West is a Nigerian pastor and a former football player who played as a defender. After winning many important awards with Auxerre in French soccer, West played for both teams in Milan, Inter Milan and AC Milan. He also played in the top leagues in England and Germany. West played for Nigeria's national soccer team 42 times from 1994 to 2005. He participated in two World Cups and two African Championships. He also played for his country in the 1996 Olympics and won a gold medal. Known for his colorful hairstyles and defensive prowess

These legends of Nigerian football have not only brought glory to their nation but have also left a lasting impact on the global stage, embodying the spirit and passion of the beautiful game. This is my personal opinion so if you think you don’t agree with this, kindly let us see your list in the comments section