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Legendary Nigerian Footballers That Cannot Be Forgotten
The legendary Nigerian footballers that cannot be forgotten are groups of individuals that gave Nigeria as a country hope by telling their stories through football.
The legendary Nigerian footballers who cannot be forgotten are groups of individuals who gave Nigeria as a country hope by telling their stories through football. Nigeria is a vast country with hundreds of tribes filled with people of great talent and sports enthusiasts will agree on this one, that the country’s history is filled with sportsmen that cannot be forgotten.
In the world of sport, there are a few people who have not only represented the country on the world stage but have also made the country proud their contribution at their time is one that will linger on in the history books.
Additionally, the legendary Nigerian footballers that cannot be forgotten, listed in this article have not only done exceptionally well but as gone on to etch their names where they will always be remembered because of the huge contributions they have made and the lives they have impacted.
1. Kanu Nwankwo
Papilo as he is fondly called is one of the most decorated players in Nigerian history and modern history. Likewise, Kanu has not only represented the country on the world stage, but he has gone on to play for some of the best clubs in the world, winning different trophies to his name and his club. Kanu Nwankwo is one of the best players in African history and one of the few people to have won from the Premier League to the Olympic gold medal he was one of the players that represented the country in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He was drafted into the Nigerian national team, representing the country between 1994 to 2010.
2. Jay-Jay Okocha
A list is not complete with a reference to the King of football. Austin Jay Jay Okocha is one of the players in Nigeria’s history that can never be forgotten. He was mostly referred to as the greatest African player of all time, and he can be regarded as that means, he is the greatest player of all time in Nigeria. Okocha’s influence cut across the borders of Nigeria to the whole continent of Africa as well as impacting people from other countries and continents. He won 73 caps for the Nigeria national team between 1993 and 2006, however, his magnificent career was shortlived as he decided to say bye-bye to the beautiful, retiring in 2008. Additionally, Okocha was added to the FIFA football game series as a “Legend” as well as named one of the greatest living football players of all time.
3. Rashidi Yekini
History definitely will not forget Rahidi Yekini for his amazing football prowess and his contribution in his own time to the Nigerian football world. Aside from appearing for the Nigerian national team, Rashidi made many contributions which range from being the all-time top goalscorer for the Super Eagles with 37 goals. He was also a part of the team that participated in 1994 where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in a World Cup. Likewise, he also helped his team win the African Cup of Natio in 1994 where he was named the best player of the competition. Furthermore, being one of the legendary Nigerian footballers who cannot be forgotten, Rashidi was the first Nigerian player to win the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
4. Taribo West
Taribo will be remembered as one of the best defenders in Nigerian history appearing in 47 caps for the Super Eagles and was also a part of the Olympic team at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. He was a powerful defender who helped the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles secure some of their wins with his hard-tackling style of play, and ball-winning abilities.
5. Patrick Olusegun Odegbami
Segun Odegbami is one of the players who have cemented their place in the history book of the country. He won 46 caps for the Nigerian National team as well as helped the team to the first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title at the 1980 tournament. Odegbami in total scored 23 goals for the Nigerian side during his time with the team, making him one of the highest goal scorers for the National Team. Segun was the first Nigerian to ever come close to winning the title of African Player of the Year Award when he came in 3rd place in 1977. He is over 70 years old and remains one of the oldest living football legends in Nigeria.
6. Teslim “Thunder” Balogun
Teslim Balogun was a Nigerian Striker who doubled as a coach after he retired from playing the beautiful game. He was one of the few people that started playing football at a time that seemed uncertain. Additionally, he was one of the Nigerian 1949 select teams, playing for the National Team for 12 years. Likewise, Teslim who was nicknamed “Thunder” because of his powerful shot, was the first ever Nigerian or African person to qualify as Africa’s first professional football coach. Due to his many other achievements as one of the legendary Nigerian footballers that cannot be forgotten, a stadium was named in his honor.
7. Samuel Okwaraji
Samuel Okwaraji is a name that almost every person born 70s and 80s to the 90s is familiar with. He was a talented footballer who represented Nigeria when the National team was still named Green Eagles and he appeared between 1988 to 1989. Okwaraji scored his first goal for Green Eagles in 1988 at the African Nations Cup which was dubbed one of the fastest goals in the history of the championship against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
8. Stephen Keshi
Stephen Keshi is one of the legendary footballers who cannot be forgotten for his incredible contribution to the Nigerian football space. Keshi who was a former player before he began a career in coaching was the captain of the team Super Eagles in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations which the team won. Additionally, he achieved a milestone as one of the only two people who have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach. In addition to coaching the Nigerian National Team, he has also made the country proud, writing his name in the history book as the first Nigerian to coach another National Team when he coached the Mali and Togo teams surprisingly bringing the latter to their first World Cup tournament in 2006. He enjoyed a successful time as a player and had equal achievement as a manager.
9. Best Ogedengbe
Best Ogedengbe was a Nigerian football player who played as a goalkeeper. Additionally, Best was one of the teams that represented the Green Eagles, the Nigerian National Team at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. He also won the African Cup with the team in 1976. Meanwhile, aside from his playing time, he has also coached some of the Nigerian local teams as an assistant manager, achieving success with some of those teams.
10. Christian Chukwu
Christian Chukwu is a former Nigerian football player who also captained the National Team during his time as a player. Also, Christian, is also one of the few Nigerians along with Stephen Keshi, to have managed another country’s national team. As a defender, he helped Nigeria cliche a victory being the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup in 1980. Additionally, he has also coached the Nigerian Team, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. He is one of the legendary players that will never be forgotten.
Conclusion
This article highlights legendary Nigerian footballers who significantly contributed to the growth and popularity of football in the country. These players not only developed Nigerian football but also united the people through the game. The list includes both iconic figures and fan favorites. The hope is that the current generation will build upon their achievements and accomplish even greater feats.