₦airaland Forum

Nightshift: Emmanuel Okalla is over 2m tall with fast reflexes .

Yep. And so?

Afam4eva: I'm asking because i see no reason why Elhaji diouf who was a former African best footballer did not make your list and an Essien did. What has Essien done that Diouf has not done? What individual laurel has Essien one in his life apart from sleeping with Nadia Buari?

So what if he made African footballer of the year?

Federic Kanoute made African footballer of the year, does that mean he is better than Finidi or Hossam Hassan that never did?

All such one-time shine counts for nothing in my world.

A striker that can't score goals is the greatest?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Hadji_Diouf

Only people that know nothing about football, go and line up all those who have won an award and say they are the greatest.

Even Jay Jay that is a midfielder was more prolific than him in scoring goals.

tobounty: There used ‎​τ̅o be one patrick mboma whose combination wit eto's used ‎​τ̅o be deadly,sagamite where did u place mboma

Nowhere in the top 50.

Nightshift: I would have loved to leave Ernest Okonkwo to pass the judgment if he is alive, but Tolu Fatoyinbo would equally do. Those commentators saw these men in action over a dozen times . The sight of Okalla between the goal- posts terrified many strickers to hell, literally !

Maybe he was using charms on them then because I don't know why he remained in Africa if he was that outstanding.

Afam4eva: @sagamite
Did you use any specific criteria to come up with these players or was did you just pick any player you felt should be there?

My normal football criteria:

1) Abilities
2) Level the player plays at
3) The player's influence in his team

With special consideration for era and how hard it was to play in Europe.

Players of old days that only played in Africa have to really be outstanding because they were playing with fishermen.

Players of modern age that achieve are achieving against the fittest sportmen in the history of the world.

mekula: no El hadji diouf, oman biyik, cyril makanaky? Pls expand the list to 40 lets see what you'll do with it.

@kabukabu
U drink? abi na Nigeria dem say make you list?

If I expanded the list to 50, Diouf would never dream of being in it.

This is analysis, not some beer parlour "a player is flashy once and he is the greatest ever" analysis.

kabukabu is drinking home-made brew!

chic2pimp: The list however is not about who played better in a ghanian jersey. It's a combination of how well they played for both club and country.

Thank you!

Nightshift: Sagamite doesn't know about Emmanuel Okalla's quality either . He was very much like Thomas N'kono. Okalla can be compared to Germany's 'Titan' Oliver Khan as well. His generation didn't make it Europe, but definitely belong to African's best .

You men the way Oruma was very much like Jay Jay and can be compared to Zidane?

Okalla was poor man's N'kono?

His generation didn't make it to Europe but N'Kono and Bell did?

I am not saying he is not a good keeper, but in the top 30? Give me a break.

Who is he going to replace?

mallorca: El diouf who won African foootballer of the year cosecutively 2001/2002 did not make your list of 30 greatest African footballers of all time,wetin i wan tel u b say dat tin wey u dey smoke no good for ur body.go n sleep

You really need to shut up!

ifyalways: Essien on that list makes the whole thead smell m.oronic

A Ghanaian would place Muntari ahead of Essien. I'm so trying to think of an "Essien moment/days" in African Footie history. No luck.

It is not what Ghanaians think he did for Black Stars, it is what he did as a footballer.

That is as silly as saying Messi is not great because Argentines don't see it national team.

kabukabu50: 1)Austin Okocha
2)George Weah
3)Hossan Hassan
4)Ben Iroha
5)Abedi Pele
6)Finidi George
7)Didier Drogba
Samuel Eto
9)Roger Milla
10)Mustafa Hadji
11)Segun Odegbami
12)Uche Okechukwu
13)Kalusha Bwayla
14)Jules Bocande
15)Tony Yeboah
16)Mutiu Adepoju
17)Kanu Nwankwo
18)Muda Lawal
19)Kolo toure
20)Obafemi Martins
21)Victor Ikpeba
22)Oman Biyik
23)Austin Eguavoen
24)Rashidi Yekini
25)Taribo West
26)Sunday Oliseh
27)titi Camara
28)Michael Essien
29)Robert Song
30)Emmanuel amunike

BTW Fashy keepers.This is a authentic all time list to end all lists.

Where is Obafemi Martins and Joseph Dosu?

[quote author=maxi-t]Really nice post. But I have my reservations for ETO being number one.I think Geoger Weah shud hold dat post.
Drogba fits his position well. The Nigerians that made the list are not exceptional.
For those screaming Okocha, he's not even known in nearby ghana.[/quote]That is a tough debate. I used to be for Weah:

https://www.nairaland.com/35696/greatest-footballer-ever-come-out/2#6331033

But Etoo has turned it around for me.

Lanspower: Have you forgotten Charles Akunor (Ghana)? Ismail Bassole (CIV, he scored their 2 goals against Nigeria in the Semis of 1994), What of our own Benedict Iroha ( a world class defender who 'executed' Traore and Tehi of CIV in the 1994 Semi to prevent them from causing Havoc to us), and your list could not even recorgnize Dodo Mayana, Peter Rufai the great!, as far as African Cup of Nation is concerned, Rufia remains one of the safest hands! and pls tell me the criteria you used to prepare the list that put Rashidi Yekini down down the list.

I can see Prof Corruption is puff puff passing like a true experienced igbo smoker.

Una dey take una weekend recharger.

tglobal: Alain Gouamene and Boubacar Barry ( both of Ivory Coast) like Alioum Boukar did'nt concede a goal in regulation time in 1992 and 2012 Afcons respectively

Leave this thread.

mallorca: i dont argue with ppl like you who claims to know it all,
Amunike won African footballer of year 1997
Ikpeba won it 1997
El Ddiouf won it consecutive 2001/2002.
now tell me how can someone who won african footballer of year consecutively did not make your list?

Never talk about football again.

And don't vote too.

Nightshift: Some people may disagree but Christain Chukwu(a defender) and Emmanuel Okalla(goalkeeper) were African's best in their position during their time for Rangers and Nigeria. Emmanuel Kunde(a defender) was also another African's best for Cannon Sportive and Cameroon .

Jesus Lord!

Not only them! Julius Aghahowa was the best of his era. I forgot to put him above Drogba.

la furia: where is abu tarika of egypt and alhaly? the list is ok, not easy to bring up such a list, one has to consider club, country, and individual performance.

if u base it on country performance only, eto will be lower in rank compared to abu trika who has a better nations cup performance and george weah wont even make the list.

base on club performance only, some names will surely not make it, mostly the old players.

combining club and country, not easy to come up with the perfect list, george weah wont be 2nd, roger milla wont be top 5.

but on a general same playin feild whether club or country, the list is good

Abu tarika ko, Garba Sulaiman ni!

VUVUZELA10: So no place for Didier Drogba in the list? Just thinking if the writer or whoever compiled this list ever heard of VICTOR ODUAH, YAKUBU MABO, ILERIKA etc

Say hi to Prof Corruption. Thank him for the joint.

1. Samuel Etoo (Cameroun) - Striker
Most prolific African footballer I have ever seen at the highest level. Highest number of wins of African footballer of the year, and numerous runner ups of it. Consistently one of the best over many years. Currently the highest paid footballer in the world.

2. George Weah (Liberia) - Striker
The only African that has ever won World Footballer of the year. Prolific striker who despite going to Europe at a more advanced age, still dominated and was the best in the world.

3. Didier Drogba (CIV) - Striker
Leader of Men, one of the dominant strikers of his era. Also frequently in the list of footballers being considered for WFoY.

4. Roger Milla (Cameroun) - Striker
A prolific striker who dominated African football for a long stretch in the 80s. Made his mark in Europe in an era when Nigerian players could only dream of it. Also had alot of impact in the national team.

5. Salif Keïta (Mali) - Striker
This is a man that played in an era when it would not be out of place to be called a monkey. When he was bought by Valencia in the 70s, the Spanish press said "Valencia goes out to buy Germans and comes back with a black man". By the time he showed them what he could do, the racists started loving him and called him "The black pearl of Mali". 125 goals in 149 matches in Europe for a French team, when they used to hack strikers no be beans, his goals helping the team win the French title for 3 consecutive seasons. He played for 4 European teams in the 60s and 70s when that was not even a norm and his goals records are quality.

6. Abedi Pele (Ghana) - Midfielder
First African player to be the soul of a team that was dominant in Europe. Part of the "Magical Trio", along with Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris Waddle at Marsielle. Voted best foreign player in Seria A when it was still the best league in the World. Note: Foreign includes all the Brazilians, Argentines, Germans, Dutch and co. Tormented African teams including Nigeria. 1 goal every 2 games for his country as a midfielder. Godly football brains.

7. Thomas N'kono (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
Greatest keeper ever to come out of Africa. It is not beans for a goal keeper to win AFoY when you have strikers and midfielders. 241 league games for Espanyol. The first African keeper to hold first team shirt in a big European club.

8. Michael Essien (Ghana) - Midfielder
For 4 to 5 straight years he was in the worlds top 20 players. Only Etoo, Weah and Drogba can even dream of claiming that. Star player for teams (Chelsea and Lyon) making waves in CL when football reached its peak. A workhorse. If slavery was still legal, he would be one of the most expensive slaves.

9. Mahmoud El-Khatib (Egypt) - Striker
Egypt's greatest player. African Footballer of the year, a goal machine for club and country and also a skilful dribbler. Career cut short like Van Basten by defenders hacking him too much. Regarded as Arab's greatest sportsman of the 20th century. Sportsman o, not just footballer.

10. Joseph-Antoine Bell (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
Another keeper that made a name for himself in Europe in an era when African strikers could not dream of it, talkless of keepers. 109 games for Marsielle in the era when Marsielle was the top club side in the world is not beans.

Afam4eva: Apart from winning the UCL with chelsea even as a fringe player, what's Essien's individual achievements as a footballer?

I am about to go through the top 10 to explain it a bit.

Jbols2001: and where is George Weah??

At Specsavers!

CAMNEWTON4PRES: Marc Vivien Foe(Cameroon) midfielder
Omam Biyik(Cameroon) striker
Alioum Boukar(Cameroon) goalkeeper . Only undefeated goalkeeper in Afcon history.

Marc Vivien Foe kon, John Marco Whittington ni!

Alioum Boukar ko, Wasiu Shittu ni!

mallorca: God blees you my guy,Micheal Essien make his yeye list while players like Stephen Appiah, Victor Ikpeba,Musa Hadji,El DIouf,Amunike,Sunday Oliser,Tony Yeboa,Taribo,Uche Okechukwu did not make the list,anyway na him opinion sha

Never let me hear you talk about football again in your life!

Amunike, Oliseh, Diouf Ikpeba etc being compared to Essien.

Don't ever open your mouth to talk about football again.

semid4lyfe: No space for Frederick Kanoute, Mustapha Hadji, Joel Tiehi, Odartey Lamptey, Lucas Radebe, Edward Ansah?

And you have Joseph Antoine Belle and Thomas N'kono in the Top 10 whilst players like *Rabha Madjer*, Rashidi Yekini, Kanu Nwankwo, Tony Yeboah etc are ranked between 20 - 30?

Ridiculous!

If I were an editor of a sports paper and I ask you to come up with a ranking of African Greatest Footballers and you give me this, I'll toss it into the bin straight.

Are you having a laugh?

Ode-to-tee who?

Apart from Lucas Radebe, which ratirati people are you naming?

Amuse me. Tell me where you would have slotted your Ode-to-tee and co.

You want to compare Rashidi Yekini and Kanu to keepers that were regarded as some of the best in Europe?

kramer: Is this ranked in order?? If yes how is essien ranked higher than okocha And why is odegbami ranked so low

The same Michael Essien that was listed as one of the World best for 4-5 successvie seasons and being star player of winning teams is who you want to compare with Okocha and Odegbami?

You having a laugh?

Afam4eva: What did Finidi George do for the super eagles that other players did not do? Same with Segun Odegbami.

Is the list in order of how great the players were?

Finidi was once one of the best 3 right wingers in the World and a key player in a Champions League winning football beauty team. His downside that made him lower is lack of longevity at being at the top.

Prof Corruption: I have problem with the ranking. Kanu should be among the top three.

Weed?

4 Play: Maybe they're on the lookout for liliputian Malian Islamists, hence the aiming of the AK47 to the ground! The Nigerian army is a posse of emotionally incontinent thugs in uniform masquerading as professional soldiers. The residents of Maiduguri and Odi can bear witness to the sadism of the Nigerian military.

Their peers in under countries certainly don't hold them in high esteem.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/05/nigerian-army-mali-mission-delayed

I almost pissed myself laughing!

That picture summarises just how dumb, untrained and unprofessional our dumb soldiers are. WTF!

As I said earlier, no sane human being with knowledge wants Nigerian Militia coming to their region during a war. They will kill, raape and torture indiscriminately.

Pure animals!

1. Samuel Etoo (Cameroun) - Striker
2. George Weah (Liberia) - Striker
3. Didier Drogba (CIV) - Striker
4. Roger Milla (Cameroun) - Striker
5. Salif Keïta (Mali) - Striker
6. Abedi Pele (Ghana) - Midfielder
7. Thomas N'kono (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
8. Michael Essien (Ghana) - Midfielder
9. Mahmoud El-Khatib (Egypt) - Striker L
10. Joseph-Antoine Bell (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
11. Hossam Hassan (Egypt) - Striker L
12. Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) - Defender
13. Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) - Goalkeeper
14. Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia) - Midfielder
15. Laurent Pokou (CIV) - Striker
16. Godfrey Chitalu (Zambia) - Striker L
17. Yaya Toure (CIV) - Midfielder
18. Jacques Songo'o (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
19. Rabah Madjer (Algeria) - Striker
20. Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria) - Midfielder
21. Bwanga Tshimen (Zaire) - Defender L
22. Tony Yeboah (Ghana) - Striker
23. Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria) - Striker
24. Carlos Kameni (Cameroun) - Goalkeeper
25. Kanu Nwankwo (Nigeria) - Striker
26. Lakhdar Belloumi (Algeria) - Midfielder L
27. Rigobert Song (Cameroun) - Defender
28. Segun Odegbami (Nigeria) - Midfielder L
29. Finidi George (Nigeria) - Midfielder
30. Noureddine Naybet(Morroco) - Defender


7 Camerounians
5 Nigerians
4 Ghanians
3 Ivorians
2 Egyptians, Algerians, Zambians
1 Liberian, Malian, Zimbabwean, Zairean, Moroccan

L - Denotes a player who played majority or all their career outside Europe.

morpheus24: We need to take you into township especially those colored neighbourhoods. You will rethink the word "Refined" talkless of "Ladies"

Okay lets refine the definition of SA Black females as those who are able to get foreign visas then.

Smartie gurl: Sagamite, hello!! Don't you think you ought to love someone before dating the being?

If that was the case, then most likely I would never date. So, No, I just need to be attracted physically and like their "first few impressions" personalities.

Smartie gurl: your right though, buh gurls these days would nt want to show there love until they become very sure of how much u love them, becuz as u said "gurls are emotionally weak", dats why few of them may nt want to let u knw how much they love you, so you won't toil with their emotion....

We are not talking about love yet, we are talking about dating someone you like.

I would not be surprised if I later hear that the referee got an envelope from Asian betting syndicates who wanted the match to end as a draw.

Smartie gurl: lol, is like you have experienced it dude. Buh then some gurls would nt want u to knw when they love you cuz they feel you might start toiling with their emotion.

Yeah, I am not talking about girls begging you or chatting you up. If she likes you, she would just nudge you on gently. Women are usually very weak emotionally when they like someone. And secondly, if she likes you, she likely thinks you are desirable and would think some other girl might accept your approach so she would try to rush it to take the place. There is no way a girl who likes you and you have already started communicating with would not show the subtle signs she wants to take the place. An experienced guy will spot those cues.

She would show the 3 As: I am Available, I am Approachable, I am Agreeable.

If she does not show all that, she does not really like him that much.

As a guy, wait until she does something that indicates she thinks "you are the one".

NEVER chase a woman!

Remember, women normally do the selecting and they most times know your intentions, don't be a mugu falling for that "I did not know what he wanted/if he liked me" BS.

She knows, and she is making her decision after a series of testing she would put you through and considering the other options she has. Dont' fall for their stewpid "Oh, I am naive!". It is all a power game to them.

If she can't indicate directly or indirectly it is you she wants, then she does not like you like that! She would do it for another guy she likes in a heartbeat! So it is not worth the investment you would put in wooing her or being with her when you can hammer around.

all4naija: Nigeria military needs discipline in all ramifications. Their looks are scary not to mention their dispositions of abuse in places they've when served keeping peace.

Nigerian Militia!

We don't have a military!

They are animals that kill and raape arbitrarily.

We take animals in, train them like animals and they behave like animals.

Worthless bunch!

The SE was really poor in the first half.

Poor aerial balls lounged forward only for the ball to come back from the equally poor Zambians.

Poor team play as the Zambians appear to be defending from the front. Anytime the ball is with the SE in our half, there is at least 5 Zambians players in our half of the pitch, most times with only 4 SE players against these 5. Instead of our midfielders to fall back and find gaps they can stay in to collect a pass from the 4, they all stay forward forcing the 4 to try long balls. Long balls which people like Oboabona are particularly poor at. Hence we kept on losing the ball by playing it wayward or for the Zambians to clear.

Second half was a bit more coordinated and Emenike looked inspired with more bullish play. Just like I said after the Burkina Faso game, we could have won the game but something is really wrong with the black man.

https://www.nairaland.com/1169217/afcon-nigeria-vs-burkina-faso/51#14004965

The Musa guy was so selfish and is desperate for glory. To be frank, I am yet to see what this guy brings to the game that is better than Odems, who is not selected, or Uche, who is sitting on the bench.

The substitution was so poor. I honestly really don't know what it takes before Keshi knows he should have substituted Musa. WTF! That was one of the 2 poorest players on the pitch and who was spoiling the teamwork and you take him out in the 89th minute? WTF!

The only player who was worse than Musa on the pitch was Onanzi. He was so awful at right back. He kept on being sucked in forward-wise or centre-wise, leaving a man completely free on the wings. This guy on one occassion headed to the centre to join a centre back in blocking a shot from a Zambian player 20 yards out, leaving 2 men on his side 10 yards out COMPLETELY free. If the Zambian player had some sense and just passed to any of the 2, it would have been easier for those 2 players (10 yards out) to score as they would be 1-on-1 with the keeper, than a player 20 yards out that already has a centre back in front of him and the keeper. Onanzi was awful but he has an excuse he is more a defensive midfielder and was filling in. The penalty was not his fault at all, the referee is mad!

Nosa Igiebor was not even in the team in my opinion. Did not do one thing I remember.

There was really no movement in the attack. I hate it so much. Players just standing on one spot waiting for a pass and then they get tackled or just pass it back. DISORGANISE THE FCKING DEFENCE BY JOGGING FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

And, as expected, we were appalling at all set pieces. All corners and freekicks were hopeless exercises. ALL!

The penalty. Why not Enyeama? Is he not the penalty specialist in the team?

Echeijile was the only solid thing I saw in the team. Involved going forward but yet solid in defence.

Ogude and Emenike also played well.

I really don't want to see that Musa start again!

Chongaiman: ^^^
Shege!!! Sgt Slaughter!!! BH in action!
So you've managed to summon just enough willpower to take a brief break from sexuality section? Your obsession with fvck suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. Well done Baba Ijebu. My mommy said if I don't visit NL daily, I will die. . . Now run along to those sections that get you to the rooftop, pikin. . . .

Boko Haram is better trained than you animals.

At least I work to get my fvck, unlike cretins that raape pubescent girls.

Action!

https://assets.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Nigerian-Troops-deployed-to-Mali-360x225.jpg

Illiterate, unprofessional person misfits.

Danger to society.

Chongaiman: ^^^
Oga, back from your night jobs? Ekabo sir. Must have missed NL so badly while at work that you couldn't wait to grab a quick nap and a rushed breakfast before escaping from reality? You must be highly estactic by now and thinking, "Never felt this good in a long while," abi?

Hmm. . . .social misfits? Didn't I see those words before on another thread? Oga 20k , how good does feel to be back to your dear, dear sexuality and romance sections? So heavenly? Please don't be suicidal in staying away too long from your Second Life and owner:


Modesty is only for the living. He that is down needs fear no fall. Bleep others' consternation so long as you can be lost in your fantasies. What role would you play today? Prince Charming? Leonidas? Jack Bauer? Let me not waste your precious time dude, run along and catch all the pleasures NL has in store for you. Are those your footfalls quickly fading to my hearing? . . .

Is this your defence of the social misfits we give guns?

You have no more arguments to defend the cretins?

I slaughtered you!

kandiikane: ^ew! Bruv? Isn't it 14year olds who speak like that?

Well I am just 18 years old, so I am close.

agabaI23: sagacity, sagatropia, this babe na super.

Bruv, she makes man grateful he is on Earth.