Nigeria has an illustrious sporting history and
one of the most popular sports arenas they compete in is, of course, football.
The national team, colloquially known as the Super Eagles, made an impression
with their eye-catching 2018 world cup jersey that sold out in just three minutes.
But it’s not just their kit
that attracts praise, the team members are renowned footballers on the pitch as
well, regularly qualifying for and performing well in international
tournaments.
Perhaps the greatest achievement for any Nigerian
football after playing for the national team is a transfer to a top team in one
of the top leagues in Europe. Of all the leagues the English Premier League
(EPL) is often cited as the most competitive, attracting the best talent and
winning fans around the world. It’s been estimated that around €1billion is wagered per game. It’s
said that anyone can beat anyone, making predicting winners difficult, so mobile
casinos might be a better option, although a wager certainly adds to
the entertainment value! A fair few Nigerians have made it to the EPL, becoming
fan favourites in the process, and we’ll explore a few of them here.
Jay-Jay Okocha
When it comes to fan favourites there may be none
more adored than the man who’s ‘so good that they named him twice’. He played
for Bolton but such was his talent that his reputation transcends fan loyalty
and he’s still well-liked by fans across the footballing world. A midfielder,
Jay-Jay delighted supporters with his box of tricks and natural flair, and
there was always an air of anticipation whenever he had the ball at his dancing
feet. Perhaps his greatest achievement was winning the League Cup with Bolton
in 1994.
Nwankwo Kanu
Some accolade Kanu as Nigeria’s greatest ever
footballer and it’s easy to see why. Following success at Dutch giants
Ajax—where he won the coveted Champions League—and Italian giants Inter Milan,
he moved to Arsene Wenger’s pioneering Invincibles team with the likes of
Thierry Henry and fellow Africans Kolo Toure and Lauren. Twice African player
of the year, he retired in 2010 but showed he’s still got in 2016 when he scored a hat-trick in a legends game against
AC Milan.
Yakubu
Ayegbeni
Known to his fans by his first name, Yakubu was
an imposing striker and the most prolific Nigerian goalscorer in the EPL,
netting 95 top-flight goals for five different teams. As well as being a
renowned poacher and cool finisher, Yakubu could use his strength and stature
to hold up the ball and help out defensively as well. He also had a great hit
rate at the international level scoring 21 goals in 57 international
appearances.
Alex Iwobi
Last on our list is the effervescent Alex Iwobi.
Fun fact— Iwobi is actually the nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha, so there’s some
football pedigree there already! Iwobi is a product of Arsenal’s famous Hale
End academy and, like Kanu, played under Arsene Wenger, winning an FA Cup and
reaching the Europa League final. Still relatively young at 24, he’s renowned
for his tireless work rate, intelligence, and tricky, feet so he has a bright
future ahead of him at new club Everton as well as with the Super Eagles.
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