Kanu Edges Out Okocha As Nigeria’s Best Player In The Premier League

Fans have voted the Arsenal legend as the greatest ever Nigerian to play in the English top flight.

In a poll monitored on the Premier League’s official website, Nwankwo Kanu has edged out the quartet of Austin Okocha, John Obi Mikel, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Moses in a poll put together to determine Nigeria’s best representative in EPL history.

The former Gunners striker claimed 34 per cent of the total votes cast to narrowly defeat Bolton Wanderers icon Okocha, who ended up with 30 per cent.

It’s a fitting tribute to Kanu, who was renowned for his delightful combination of skill and athleticism.

He has supplied more assists than any of his fellow countrymen, setting up 29 goals in his 273 matches. The former Inter Milan man is also only second to both Shola Ameobi and Aiyegbeni on the appearances and goal scorer’s charts, respectively.

Kanu won two Premier League titles with Arsenal.

While Okocha was one of the most skilful players to grace the Premier League, it’s a bit surprising that fans considered him better than Mikel, who won as many league titles as Kanu.

Mikel, who played 249 times in midfield for Chelsea over ten years, got 16% of votes to finish as joint-third with Ayeigbeni.

‘The Yak’ merited his place on the list, having secured his legacy as the highest-scoring Nigerian in the Premier League with 95 goals.

Another former Chelsea man and one-time Premier League winner Victor Moses finished with 4% of votes cast.

A total of 42 Nigerians have featured in the Premier League, more than any other African country, with Efan Ekoku being the first when he represented Norwich City in April 1993.

Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, and Odion Ighalo are the five Nigerians playing in the current campaign.