Nigeria’s greatest player: Victor Osimhen and Mikel Obi over Austin Okocha

William Troost-Ekong has weighed in on one of Nigerian football’s most hotly debated topics — who is the greatest player to ever don the green and white jersey of the Super Eagles?

Traditionally, any conversation around Nigeria’s all-time greats quickly draws the names of Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, icons of the 1990s golden generation.

With their dazzling skills and trophy-laden careers, both legends were instrumental during Nigeria's glory years — winning the Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic gold, and qualifying for three consecutive World Cups.

But Troost-Ekong, who currently captains the national team, believes it’s time to look beyond nostalgia and consider the incredible talents of the current era.

The former Watford defender highlighted two modern stars — Victor Osimhen and John Obi Mikel — as deserving of the top honour.

“Automatically you want to lean and talk about your Jay Jay Okocha’s and those kind of players but I think I’ll have to stick with my generation,” Troost-Ekong told ESPN.

“I think Victor Osimhen has the potential to be the best player that we’ve ever seen in the Nigerian shirt,” he added.

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Osimhen has arguably been Nigeria’s best player of the last decade and the most valuable Super Eagles star on record.

From claiming the Golden Boot and Silver Ball at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup with 10 goals in seven matches, to becoming Nigeria’s second-highest scorer of all time with 26 goals, the Napoli striker continues to break new ground.

He was also named CAF Footballer of the Year in 2023 and is now reportedly nearing a blockbuster move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

While Osimhen represents Nigeria’s future, Troost-Ekong also made a strong case for John Obi Mikel, calling him “very, very underrated.”

“Pure talent wise, I loved playing with John Obi Mikel, I think he’s very very underrated,” Troost-Ekong noted. 

“When I played with him at the Olympics he played as a number 10, the Super Eagles he played as a number 10 and I think then we really saw his talent and why he got signed by Chelsea at the age he did.”

Reflecting on greatness across the continent, Troost-Ekong reserved his ultimate praise for Liberian icon George Weah, the only African player to ever win the Ballon d’Or.

“It’s got to be George Weah, because he won the Ballon D’or. We still have to see that again in the next years but I’ll give it to him,” he said.

William Troost-Ekong has equally sealed his place among Nigeria’s greatest footballers in the history of the game. 

The former Udinese star is the highest-scoring defender at the AFCON and was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 edition of the tournament.