There are at least five Super Eagles stars presently plying their trade in the Spanish Primera Division, an exciting situation for ex-international Mutiu Adepoju
A La Liga ambassador in Nigeria, Adepoju has praised the quality and ability of the Nigerian footballers in the Spanish top-flight, while also expressing his delight that the country is now well represented in La Liga as compared to a few years ago.
The former Shooting Stars midfielder starred for Real Madrid B, Racing Santander, and Real Sociedad in a career that spanned almost ten years in the nineties.
Adepoju was then one of the moderate Nigerian contingent in Spain that also had George Finidi, Peter Rufai, and Wilfred Agbonavbare.
Unfortunately, a lengthy barren period during the early 2000s ensued for Nigerian stars in Spain.
However, there is better representation these days with Samuel Chukwueze flying the green-and-white colours at Villarreal and Ramon Azeez doing the same at Granada.
Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem are both at Leganes with the latter on-loan from Portugal’s FC Porto, same as Oghenekaro Etebo, who joined Getafe from Stoke in January on a temporary deal.
Adepoju, in a chat with Goal, couldn’t hide his pleasure at seeing compatriots excelling in a league he mastered decades ago.
“I am so happy because in the past when we were playing, we had so many Nigerians and Africans in La Liga, and all of a sudden, due to some circumstances there were no Nigerians in La Liga, and as La Liga ambassador I was thinking what could be happening?
“Could it be that we were not having Nigerian players good enough to play in La Liga?
“Then we had Chukwueze, Ramon Azeez, I am just so happy and having Omeruo and [Chidozie Awaziem] in Leganes I am so happy there are Nigerians there.”
