There have been some impressive Nigerian players in the past – Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu immediately spring to mind – but now the Super Eagles are laying the foundations for an incredibly bright future.
It has been difficult to avoid the Nigerian influence in the Premier League this season, with Odion Ighalo scoring freely for Watford, while John Obi Mikel has recently re-established himself as a reliable performer at the base of Chelsea’s midfield.
But it is looking at the country’s prospects for the future that there is most excitement.
Two of Nigeria’s biggest starlets have been on the fringes of proceedings for Manchester City and Arsenal respectively this season, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi both highly regarded by both club and country.
Both players have already made their senior debuts for Nigeria, but it is at club level where they have made the most significant impact.
Last Saturday seemed to be a pivotal day in the careers of both starlets. While Iheanacho was enhancing his rapidly growing reputation by scoring a hat-trick for City against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Iwobi, in his new position of central-midfield, was producing a terrific performance for Arsenal against Burnley in the same competition.
City have so much faith in Iheanacho’s ability that they elected not to sign an additional forward during the January transfer window, with the prospect, who has an average shot accuracy of 60% in the Premier League this season, considered by manager Manuel Pellegrini to be good enough to make a substantial impact at the highest level of the game despite his lack of experience.
Iwobi, meanwhile, has been racking up the minutes for Arsenal and has made four Premier League appearances so far, registering an average pass accuracy of 90%.
An intriguing prospect, he rose through the ranks as a winger but has adapted seamlessly to playing in central-midfield and is likely to be loaned out at some point next season.
Iwobi is likely to be joined by two more talented young Nigerians at Arsenal soon, with Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze set to seal moves to the club.
The pair, an attacking midfielder and left winger respectively, shone as Nigeria won the U17 World Cup last year and are seen as being the tip of the iceberg with regards to the country’s ever-growing list of talents for the future.
During the recent transfer window, CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa was linked with several major clubs, with the 23-year-old having made a considerable impact for the Russian team.
Musa is already the captain of the Nigeria national team and seems set for a move to a more high-profile side in the not too distant future.
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that Nigeria are making excellent progress in their youth development. But the most encouraging aspect is that these players are highly regarded by English clubs, who aren’t afraid to provide the prospects with an opportunity to impress.
It will take much more work to transform Nigeria into a nation that is capable of competing for honours on the world stage, but the Super Eagles are certainly moving in the right direction, with the future of their national side looking very bright indeed.

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