mans114:
Nigeria’s top five rated players of all time

By Mansur Abubakar

Since the formation of Nigeria’s first national football team in 1949 which was coached by the famous Fulham star' John (Jack) Finch, the country has went on to produce some of the brightest players in the history of the game. From the Christian Chukwu inspired side that landed Eagles their first African Cup of Nations trophy in 1980 to the immensely talented ‘dream team’ which took the world by storm in 1994 (many also describe it as the best of all time).

All manner of stars have adorned the green and white before going on to achieve stardom, international recognition and trophies alike, these five players are the most highly rated as far as football in Nigeria is concerned.

5 Stephen Keshi- [/b]present coach of the senior national team who apart from guiding Eagles to their third AFCON title in South Africa two years ago also enjoyed a sterling playing career with both Nigeria and a host of clubs in Europe.

A no nonsense centre back who was occasionally drafted as a holding midfielder, Keshi got his debut at the age of 17 in 1989 and went on to captain the team to both the Tunisia 94 AFCON triumph and their first FIFA World Cup, gaining over 80 caps on the way.

His record with Belgian side Anderlecht is also admirable having being part of the team that clinched the league and cup double in 1993, today Coach Keshi is one of the most decorated and recognized ex Nigerian players.

[b]4 John Obi Mikel- came to limelight during the 2005 U17 World Cup in Holland where he almost eclipsed arguably the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi to the coveted Golden Ball due to his mesmerizing display at the tournament which made many rate him among the three most talented footballers in the world at the time.

Apart from being part of the 2013 AFCON winning side in Johannesburg, Mikel’s Eagles career can best be described as average but Chelsea FC of England is where the midfielder has really made his name, being part of the team that has won three EPL titles, four FA Cups, three League cups, UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.

All that meant this list would have been incomplete without including the former Lyn Oslo player who due to his talents was at the centre of a transfer tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea in 2006. Today he is no longer a first team player in the ‘Blues’ team but will go down as one of Nigeria’s biggest exports in football.

3 Rashidi Yekini- No one is yet to break his goal scoring record for Eagles having netted 46 times in 94 appearances. Was the focal point of Clement Westerhoff’s amazing team of 1994 where he scored vital screamers that helped landed the ‘Tunisia 94’ AFCON title.
Scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at a FIFA World Cup against Bulgaria in USA with his goal net celebration stuck in the minds of millions of football lovers till date.

In Europe, Yekini didn’t disappoint either, notching up goals wherever he went to from Boavista, Vitoria Setubal to swiss side Young Boys, the Kwara born star was able to achieve high international rating and stardom during his playing days, may God bless his soul.

2 Austin Jay Jay Okocha- He remains Nigeria’s most technically gifted player till date, he was able to do things no one could do with the ball. The great Pele once said of him “Okocha is the only African player that could walk straight into the Brazil national team” what a compliment from the legendary player.

Another player from the great 1994 team, starting his career with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga (one of his goals is rated among the top three in the history of the league) by 1998 Okocha was Africa’s most expensive player when he moved from Fenerbahce to Paris Saint Germain after the World Cup.

His stint with Bolton Wanderers is still fresh in the minds of football crazy EPL fans where he mesmerized English top flight with his abundant of skills. Bolton fans just like Nigerians rates him among their best of all time having helped them avoid the drop several times not forgetting guding them to the league cup.

Nwankwo Kanu- What haven’t been said about this player, this week a pub in South London which celebrates a legendary hero every week, wrote this about their ‘man of the week’.

“ inspired Nigeria to Olympic gold in 1996, overcame heart bypass surgery to win numerous trophies with Arsenal including being part of the invincibles of 2004 not forgetting FA Cup win for Pompey, all hail King Kanu “ they wrote on their board

Kanu was already an Eredivise and UEFA Champions league title winner with Ajax at the age of 17 before engineering the miracle of Atlanta 1996 despite being close to death at the time. His inability to lift the AFCON is the only blip in the career of Nigeria’s most highly rated and respected player.

WTF Wats mikel doing there His name looks odd on the list.

Remove Mikel Obi.

amanze15:
he does,

tell me how he merits beeing on the list of 5 footballers.

Mikel ?

Mikel Obi.... Deliberate provocation by the writer of the article. Mikel is not even in the Nigerian top 900 footballers of all time.

CONGRATS TO THEM

Base on club give it to Kanu, but Okocha won Africa Cup of Nation which Kanu didn't. Kanu won also Africa footballer of the year, which Okocha didn't.

OP...na wa for ...you forget Oliseh

RonJeremy:
Mikel Obi.... Deliberate provocation by the writer of the article. Mikel is not even in the Nigerian top 900 footballers of all time.

Haba how can you say something like that? Mikel deserves to be on the list jare.

Na wetin Mikel name dey do here?

Where is Amunike, Okparaji, Siasia etc


I dey smell foup-play here

amanze15:
he does,

he doesn't! Rather put yakubu

Mikel came through during under 20 World Cup, not under 17. Mikel don old that time ooh

You spoiled everything with mikels inclusion, the guy is never great at anything




What happened to the likes of Finidi, Oliseh, Segun Odegbami



Na wa oooo

kingsley3218:
WTF Wats mikel doing there His name looks odd on the list.

The topic should have been: underline the odd name

Mikel my foot. u should av put yakubu or shittu.smh

fejikudz:
The List is ok..For your information, mikel is Nigeria most decorated football player ever.. so stop the hate

you have probably sniffed dried cow shit.

Mikel is more decorated than Kanu Nwakwo?

anochuko01:

The topic should have been: underline the odd name

I swear.....even blind man go underline him name

And I'll pick Sunday Oliseh ahead of Stephen Keshi or Uche Okechukwu

Pls who and who compiled this list and put Mikel in thus level with Kesh, Okocha, Yekini, Kanuri Pls remove the name Mikel with immediate effect as a matter of fact if no other better players to replace him put Yakubu Aiyegbeni is better.

Mikel the mist laziest National Team player we ever had in the history of Nigeria football.

Instead of Mikel,na Finidi for dey

Very Fair, obi and keshi thou

Noneroone:
Fair

majamajic:
The list is ok

for mikel it was 2005 under 20 not under 17, messi was the tournament's best player, mikel was second, taye taiwo third.

OP never grow then, na tell dem tell am.

What happen to Drogba lol

We've not gotten a left winger like Amunike since he left, same goes for Finidi or who can forget his exploits for the nation and Ajax.

Not to forget Amokachi, OP's list is flawed. Mikel and Keshi haven't done enough to be on that list.

Mikel should be there and will always be there. The most decorated Nigerian player. Has won 2 premier leagues, 4 FA cups, 2 league cups, 1 community shiled, 1 champions league, 1 europa league, 1 nations cup,

Individual honours
U-20 world cup silver football 2005
African young player of the yr, 2005,2006
Chelsea young player of the yr: 2007,2008

This is not fair...where is Omokachi "the bull"

Shortyy:
Mikel is there

And so? Don't let his russian gf catch you

chudidonas:

And so? Don't let his russian gf catch you

and what's she going to do

yeah, I agree with this list... kudos








PRESIDENT BUHARI MUST READ MY SIGNATURE

YOU SELF MUST READ IF YOU WANNA LAFF TIRE TONIGHT

My top 6:


(1.) Sunday Oliseh
(2.) Finidi George
(3.) Rashidi Yekini
(4.) Jay Jay Okocha
(5.) Daniel Amokachi
(6.) Emmanuel Amunike

Tolexander:
you have probably sniffed dried cow shit.

Mikel is more decorated than Kanu Nwakwo?

dont mind that guy..maybe he started supporting chekpe 2012

Rubbish! I guess the person that compile this list was born in 2005. Mikel no 4, Okocha no 2. Absolute rubbish. Where did he keep odegbami, amesieamaka and christian chukwu, once again rubbish.