Most people know that football is most popular mainly in Europe, in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Italy, among others, and in South America, where we immediately associate it with that sport in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. However, in the following article, we would like to focus on another continent, or rather, a country that is less often mentioned in the context of football. In the ever-evolving landscape of international football, staying updated with the latest football news is essential for fans around the globe. This is particularly true when exploring the contributions of nations less frequently spotlighted in the mainstream football narrative. Among such nations, Nigeria stands out, not only for its passionate fan base but also for the remarkable talent it has contributed to the sport. This article delves into the careers of Nigerian footballers who have made significant impacts both on their national team and in some of Europe’s most prestigious leagues.
Victor Osimhen
He is arguably one of the best football players from Nigeria at the moment. The 25-year-old impressed with his effectiveness in the 2022-2023 season, in which he scored 26 goals, playing in 32 games; as a result, he became the top scorer in Serie A, and Napoli won its first Italian championship in more than 30 years.
Other accomplishments of this player include winning the 2015 U-17 World Cup and U-23 Africa Cup Of Nations also in 2015. In 2023, he was chosen by CAF (Confederation of African Football) as the African Footballer Of The Year. Before moving to Napoli, he played for Lille OSC and made a stunning impression in league and Champions League matches.
According to the latest indications, despite his contract with Napoli running until 2026, Osminhen has reportedly already chosen his new club. It is said that he is likely to move to the English Premier League soon, as he has made no secret of the fact that one day he would like to play there. However, the details are not known yet.
Nwankwo Kanu
Kanu is undoubtedly one of the biggest, if not the biggest stars in the history of Nigerian football. He played as a forward. Iwuanyanwu Nationale was his first soccer club, which he joined in 1993, when he was 16. That same year, he won the Under-17 World Championship with the Nigerian national team, where he scored five goals. Shortly after, he signed a contract with AFC Ajax, with which he won the UEFA Champions League in the 1994/95 season, and in the next one, his team was runner-up in this competition. In 1996 he moved to Inter Milan.
His other accomplishments include Olympic gold from the 1996 Atlanta Games and winning the title of best African footballer that year as well.
He was diagnosed with a serious heart defect and underwent aortic valve replacement surgery. In 1999, he moved to Arsenal, with whom he won the English championship and the English Cup twice. He was known for scoring goals while entering from the substitutes’ bench. He became recognized for his two-finger salute after scoring goals. He participated in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 world championships. After the latter, he ended his national team career. After leaving Arsenal, he still played for West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.
After an unpleasant experience with a heart defect, Kanu established a foundation in 2000 that has helped build special hospitals in Africa that care for poor children struggling with undiagnosed heart defects and provide them with life-saving surgeries.
Augustine Azuka “Jay-Jay” Okocha
Regarded as one of the best football players in Africa, Augustine Okocha, started his youth career in Enugu Rangers. In 1990, when he went on a holiday to West Germany, he accompanied his friend, who was then playing for Borussia Neunkirchen, and asked to join the training, where he impressed the club coach, resulting in offering him a contract the next day.
In his time with Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored 18 goals in 90 appearances. In the match against Karlsruher SC, he dribbled to the penalty box and scored a goal against legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The goal was voted the Goal of the Season and awarded the 1993 Goal of the Year. After a conflict with a manager in 1995, Okocha and two of his teammates left the club. Okocha then joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe, where he scored 30 goals, most of them coming from free kicks, which has become his trademark.
Later, he joined Paris Saint-Germain, where his £14 million transfer made him the most expensive player to come from Africa. His move to Paris was met with protests from Turkish supporters who wanted to prevent him from making the move.
Not so long time later he started playing for the Nigerian national team, with which he stood on the podium at the African Nations Cup five times between 1994 and 2006, winning it in 1994. He participated in the World Cup three times, appearing in nine games, but he hasn’t scored a single goal.
