Ranking the Top 15 Greatest Nigerian footballers of All Time

Nigeria is a football-crazy nation. The sport is deeply embedded in its culture, uniting the people of the West African country from all walks of life. Nigerians share a deep love for European football and have a massive fanbase of major European clubs from all across the top five European League such as Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1. Over the years, the country has produced legendary footballing icons who have left their mark on the world stage and African football creating a rich legacy and heritage.

The success of Nigeria’s national team, famously called the “Super Eagles,” on the pitch and their global popularity around the world are testaments to their importance in the football fraternity. Additionally, they are renowned for producing beautiful kit designs in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations. Therefore, Nigeria is acclaimed as one of the strongest African footballing nations courtesy of its past success and recent triumphs.

Over the years, Nigeria has continued the tradition of offering world-class talents to Europe and around the globe into the top leagues. The present global sensations such as Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi are some of the finest Nigerian Internationals plying their trades for top European clubs. Building on that, let’s find out the top 15 Greatest Nigerian footballers in the game’s history.

15. Alex Iwobi

Alexander Iwobi is currently playing for Premier League outfit Fulham after joining the London outfit from Everton in the summer of 2023. Iwobi is a well-known figure in the English football circuit having risen through the ranks of Arsenal academy and played 149 games for the North London club and had a stint at Everton as well making 140 appearances for the Merseyside club from 2019 to 2023. With the Gunners, the midfielder won the FA Cup in 2017 and twice the Community Shield in 2015/16 and 2017/18 season respectively.

Interestingly, Alex Iwobi is the most capped Nigerian player who’s still active with 80 International caps for the Super Eagles and managed to score 10 goals as well. He represented Nigeria in two AFCON tournaments in 2019 and 2021 and also played in the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia. Since his first appearance in 2015 at the age of 19, Iwobi has been a regular name in the Super Eagles squad.

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14. Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen is currently one of the best strikers in the world and is highly sought after by top European clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG and Liverpool. Osimhen is also the highest-paid Nigerian footballer in the world at Napoli but this season playing on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey following the summer transfer window full of drama. The 25-year-old led Napoli to a historic Serie A winning 2022/23 campaign after 33 years of drought since Diego Maradona’s era. Osinmhen bagged a superb 26-goal haul to finish as the top scorer of the Italian top-flight.

The striker was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2023 for his success with club and country. Meanwhile, for the National team, Osimhen has been playing the talismanic role with 35 matches and 22 goals which ranks him as the country’s third-highest goal scorer, he can potentially surpass the 37-goal mark of Rashidi Yekini to become Nigeria’s all-time most goal scorer in the coming years.

13. Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s career is the perfect storyline for any rags-to-riches movie. Aiyegbeni started his career with Julius Berger in Lagos, Nigeria from where he went to play for Maccabi Haifa in Israel till 2003. It was with the Israeli club the striker enjoyed a breakthrough campaign scoring seven goals in 8 appearances in the UEFA Champions League 2002/03 season, which included a sensational hattrick and penalty goal in victory over Manchester United. Yakubu is remembered as one of the best African strikers to have graced the Premier League with 252 appearances.

The former Nigerian International netted 95 goals and assisted 26 times while playing for Everton, Middlesbrough, and Blackburn Rovers eventually establishing himself as a household name in the hearts of Premier League fans. On the International level, Aiyegbeni claimed 21 goals in 51 caps for the Super Eagles since his debut at the age of 17 in 2000.

12. Joseph Yobo

Next on the list of greatest Nigerian footballers is another Everton FC legend Joseph Yobo, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League due to his reliability, aerial dominance and leadership role that helped him secure 228 appearances in the English top flight. He was a formidable centre-back who could play full-back positions, his most successful stint in terms of trophies came at Turkish side Fenerbahce becoming two times Turkish champions and two times Turkish Cup while playing 114 matches across all competitions.

At the International level, Yobo won 100 caps for Nigeria and played a record – six AFCON tournaments in 2002,2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010, and also played a pivotal role in lifting the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. Next year, during the World Cup 2014, his final appearance came for the West African country following the exit of Nigeria from the tournament. He announced his retirement from International football in June of 2014.

11. Christian Chukwu

Christian Chukwu is a legendary figure in the history of Nigerian Football, nicknamed ‘the Chairman’ captained the Super Eagles from 1974 to 1980 leading his nation to lift their first-ever continental triumph. He played as the central defender and was prominently hailed for his leadership, psyche, and composure, it was under his leadership Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 to secure the AFCON trophy for the first time in 1980. He played a crucial role in their deliverance after finishing as the runners-up in the previous two editions in 1976 and 1978.

Chukwu spent his entire career playing in Nigeria for Enugu Rangers along with his 54 national team appearances. Following his retirement, the defender transitioned into a management job by taking up the head coach role at Kenya men’s national team and Super Eagles. Additionally, the AFCON winner also worked as a caretaker and assistant manager at Nigeria’s FC Heartland club and currently, he is serving as the president of Enugu Rangers.

10. Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa is one of the most popular names in African football, having the most number of appearances to his name. He has astonishing 110 appearances for the Super Eagles and 18 goals so far, eventually securing a spot in Nigeria’s highest goal-scorers list. Musa has represented his country in three AFCON championships (2013, 2019, 2021) and two FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018) and in the World Cup he has scored four goals the most by any Nigerian International in history.

Alongside a successful International career, the winger has been plying his trades for a host of well-renowned clubs across Europe and the Middle East clubs such as Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr. However, his most significant spell was with CSKA Moscow where he scored 61 goals and provided 33 assists in 184 appearances. Currently, Musa is contracted with Nigeria’s Kano Pillars after signing for them as a free agent earlier this month in October 2024.

9. Mudashiru Lawal

Mudashiru Lawal was one of the greatest midfielders to have represented Nigeria. Mudashiru was a key player for the Super Eagles from the mid-1970s to 1980, making 86 appearances and even scoring 12 goals. On the list of most appearances, he still holds the sixth position and was a member of the history-making 1980 Nigerian team. He also played in five successive Africa Cup of Nations (1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984) and was the first-ever player to achieve this accomplishment. Lawal also represented his country in two Olympics in 1976 (Montreal) and 1980 (Moscow).

Lawal was a box-to-box midfielder who was known for his work rate, efficiency, and vision, along with phenomenal passing ability which aided him in playmaking. For most of his club career, Lawal played for Nigerian club Shooting Stars. The Super Eagles icon passed away in 1991 at the age of 37, at that time he was still active as a professional player.

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8. Vincent Enyeama

The only goalkeeper on this list is Vincent Enyeama. With 101 appearances from 2002 to 2015, the former Lille goalkeeper is only the second player in history to have represented Nigeria in more than 100 international games. Enyeama played in three FIFA World Cups wearing Super Eagle colours starting in 2002 (Japan & South Korea), 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil). As well as standing in the goal, Enyeama was seen as supreme leader.

Enyeama is the second most capped Nigerian only behind Ahmed Musa. Under his leadership, the Super Eagles won the 2013 AFCON championship in South Africa where he kept two clean sheets. The shot-stopper was a notable figure for Ligue 1 club Losc Lille making 164 appearances and recording 65 clean sheets, while he also enjoyed success in Israel playing for several Tel Aviv clubs.

7. Finidi George

Next up on the list is Finidi Geroge, a player with a fairytale story as he began his career at Nigerian clubs and eventually secured a breakthrough move to Ajax. He also played for Real Betis and RCD Mallorca, two of the most historic Spanish clubs, as well as Ipswich town in England. Over the course of his entire club career, he made 364 appearances, scored 81 goals and 51 assists, and also won the UEFA Champions League, the Dutch league title three times, and several other domestic titles.

For Super Eagles, he debuted in 1991 and played alongside other legendary Nigerian players such as Rashidi Yekini, Stephan Keshi, and Jay Jay Okocha. He was part of Nigeria’s second continental triumph of 1994 AFCON. George won 62 International caps and made 10 goal contributions for his country. The Ajax icon made his final appearances for the country in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and eventually hung his boot retiring from International football.

6. Segun Odegbami

Despite taking retirement in 1984, Segun Odegbami is still among the country’s highest goal scorers, with 23 goals tallied in 46 appearances. He was a winger, equipped with intelligence, technicality, leadership and goal-scoring prowess. He is remembered for his role in leading Nigeria to its first AFCON title in 1980. He mainly played for Shooting Stars in Nigeria and enjoyed significant success with the Nigerian Professional League club lifting the Nigerian League title thrice, and the Nigerian FA Cup twice.

Besides his playing career, Odegbami worked for the development of sports in Nigeria, cementing his name as an icon and one the most influential figures of the sport across Africa. Odegbami also finished as AFCON’s top scorer in two editions in 1978 and 1980 and was eventually included in the African Team of the 20th Century in 1998 for his feats.

5. Stephen Keshi

Stephen Keshi is a legendary figure in the history of Nigerian football, his status is acclaimed as one the greatest defenders not only in Nigeria but in the whole of Africa. He was nicknamed ‘The Big Boss’ due to his commanding role in the backline and elite leadership qualities on the pitch for both club and country. He made 64 appearances for the Super Eagles during his career span from 1979 to 1998 and claimed the title of second most-capped Nigerian footballer at the time of his retirement.

Keshi was also part of Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON triumph in Tunisia, meanwhile, his club career was equally eventful as the defender spent the majority of his club spell in Belgium playing for Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht. The versatile centre-back made 137 appearances for Anderlecht and even scored 23 goals while playing as a defender. He led the Belgian outfit to lift the league title and two domestic cup trophies. Post-retirement, he opted for the coaching role and succeded in that as well.

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4. Jay Jay Okocha

One of the greatest African players and markers of all time was Jay Jay Okocha. His game was full of tricks and cheeky skills with dazzling dribbling, quick feet, the ability to move through tight spaces, and his ability to create goal-scoring chances from the most unlikely situations made him a truly special player with his exceptional traits.

Over the course of his career, Okocha played for major clubs across Europe including Bolton Wanderers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbache, Paris Saint-Germain and Hull City, scoring 101 goals and providing 59 assists. For the Super Eagles, he played 75 matches bagging 15 goals and Interestingly was a member of Nigeria’s 1993 AFCON-winning team alongside Rashidi Yekini.

3. John Obi Mikel

The Premier League icon, John Obi Mikel first came into the spotlight in 2005 for his starring role in the Nigeria youth team at the FIFA World Youth Championship. After a lengthy tussle with Manchester United and Chelsea, he eventually decided to move to Stamford Bridge after receiving offers from both sides. As a Chelsea player, Obi-Mikel won 11 trophies including 2 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups, and 2 League Cups.

From 2006 to 2017, the former Nigerian International made 372 appearances for the Blues and established himself as a club icon and one of the greatest African players to have graced the English Premier League. The midfielder won a significant 89 Caps for the Super Eagles and led them to clinch the 2013 AFCON title, as well as scoring 6 goals during a 14-year-long career.

2. Rashidi Yekini

The next icon of Super Eagles on the list is Rashidi Yekini, cementing his place in second place on the list of greatest Nigerian footballers. The forward still stands as the all-time highest goalscorer for his country recording 37 goals in 57 appearances and remains the only player to reach the 30-goal mark. He helped his nation lift the AFCON championship in 1994. This was the second continental triumph for Nigeria and Yekini finished as the top scorer of the competition in that edition.

He began his career with Nigerian clubs such as Kaduna United, Shooting Stars, and Abiola Babes and in the latter stages of his career went on to play for a host of European clubs bagging plenty of goals representing clubs such as FC Zürich, Vitória Setúbal, Sporting Gijón, Olympiacos. The icon won the African Footballer of the Year accolade in 1993 for his heroics.

1. Nwankwo Kanu

Known as the most decorated footballer in the history of Nigeria, Nwankwo Kanu is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time. Standing tall at 6’6 and technically gifted, he excelled at the highest level of the game with ball control, aerial skills, agility, finishing, and creativity. Kanu prominently played for Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal and Inter Milan, during his career.

The Super Eagles icon won the UEFA Champions League, 2 x Premier League, 3 x Dutch titles and the UEFA Europa League in his club career. He was also part of Arsenal’s famous ‘invincibles’ under the legendary Arsene Wenger. He played over 500 club games across Europe and racked up 109 goals and 69 assists. While playing for Nigeria, he earned 87 international caps for Nigeria and scored 13 goals.

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