Nigeria are one of Africa’s most iconic national sides with three AFCON titles to their name and a string of memorable performances at the World Cup.
The Super Eagles have produced countless high profile players at top clubs throughout world football, from mavericks like Jay-Jay Okocha to midfield enforcers such as John Obi-Mikel.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman hope to lead the current generation to glory, but who is the greatest Nigerian footballer of all time?
10) Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
Osimhen is the only active player to crack the top ten, as it’s impossible to leave the striker out given his success at club and international level.
The towering front man is forever etched into Italian football history after helping end Napoli’s title drought in the 2022-23 season, racking up 26 league goals and being crowned both Serie A player of the year and African footballer of the year.
At international level, Osimhen only made his senior debut in 2017 but is already one of the country’s greatest ever goalscorers, with just a handful more goals needed to pass Rashidi Yekini in first place.
9) Vincent Enyeama
Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria’s greatest goalkeeper ever. With incredible reflexes, leadership, and consistency, he anchored the Super Eagles for over a decade, racking up 101 caps for his national side.
He captained Nigeria to the 2013 AFCON title and starred at multiple World Cups, particularly in 2014, where he produced memorable performances in clean sheets against Iran and Bosnia
At club level, the legendary shot-stopper won the Nigerian Premier League three times in the early 2000s before spending over half a decade in France starring for Lille.
8) Finidi George
Nigeria-2013-afcon-winners
Finidi George was one of Africa’s finest wingers in the 1990s and a player who the likes of Lookman and Alex Iwobi will no doubt be looking up to.
With incredible pace and crossing that David Beckham would be proud of, he was a key part of Ajax’s golden generation that won the 1995 UEFA Champions League.
For the Super Eagles, Finidi was instrumental in the 1994 AFCON triumph and featured prominently in World Cups.
Consistency at elite club level and success internationally make Finidi one of Nigeria’s most accomplished players of all time, having also won the Eredivisie three times during his spell at Ajax.
7) John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel redefined the role of a Nigerian midfielder. Known for his intelligence, reading of the game and composure on the ball, he enjoyed most of his success at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.
Jose Mourinho once called him the “miracle man” due to his ability to play as a destroyer, marauding box to box midfielder or even as a number ten, with that versatility marking him out as one of the greatest midfielders in the Premier League in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
As captain, Mikel led Nigeria to AFCON victory in 2013 and an Olympic bronze medal in 2016. His leadership and discipline were crucial in stabilising teams filled with attacking talent.
6) Sunday Oliseh
On the topic of tough tackling midfielders, Sunday Oliseh was the engine of Nigeria’s midfield during its most successful era. A powerful and ruthless number six with tactical intelligence and leadership to boot, he played a crucial role in the 1994 AFCON win, 1996 Olympic gold, and multiple World Cup campaigns.
At club level, Oliseh featured for top European sides including Ajax, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, making him one of the most decorated exports from Nigerian football.
His iconic long-range goal against Spain at the 1998 World Cup remains one of Nigerian sport’s greatest moments.
5) Segun Odegbami
Segun “Mathematical” Odegbami was Nigeria’s first true football superstar. Playing primarily in the 1970s and early 1980s, he was a dynamic winger known for his pace, intelligence and ability to step up in the big moments.
He starred in Nigeria’s first AFCON victory in 1980, scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament. His understanding of the game and off-the-ball movement were ahead of his time, creating the pathway for the growth of some of the country’s greatest attacking talents.
Odegbami helped lay the foundation for modern African football, inspiring generations long before the continent gained the type of global footballing exposure it has today.
4) Stephen Keshi
Stephen Keshi is one of a kind as a man who both captained and managed Nigeria to AFCON glory, starring in the 1994 team and later coaching them to another title in 2013.
As a defender, he was strong, commanding, and tactically astute.
Keshi enjoyed a successful club career in Europe, notably in Belgium, and also represented Nigeria in two World Cups and was a pillar of the golden generation.
As a coach, he rebuilt Nigerian football with locally based players, restoring national pride at a time when the national side was struggling. His legacy as both a player and coach cements his spot as one of the greatest of all time.
3) Nwankwo Kanu
A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Kanu won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax, multiple Premier League titles with Arsenal, and an Olympic gold medal in 1996 with Nigeria, making him one of the greatest African footballers of all time.
Overcoming a life-threatening heart condition early in his career, Kanu went on to enjoy remarkable longevity at the highest level, inspiring not only with his ability but with his resilience and fortitude.
His intelligent movement, ball control and lethal finishing made him a unique forward who thrived in tight spaces despite his huge 6 foot 5 frame.
Kanu’s post-playing career and humanitarian work further enhance his legacy, with the Kanu Heart Foundation tackling homelessness, building hospitals and paying for life-changing medical care.
2) Jay-Jay Okocha
Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most technically gifted footballer ever and one of the most “Barclays” players of all time.
Blessed with extraordinary dribbling ability, flair, and creativity, Okocha played the game with a smile on his face, and has even been compared to Brazil legend Ronaldinho.
He was the heartbeat of the Super Eagles for over a decade, starring in three World Cups and winning the 1994 AFCON. At club level, he shone for Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG, and Bolton Wanderers, where he became a cult hero in the Premier League.
Okocha’s influence went beyond trophies – he changed how Nigerian footballers were perceived globally.
1) Rashidi Yekini
Rashidi Yekini stands as the most iconic striker in Nigerian football history. He remains Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer with 37 goals in 58 appearances, a record that has never seriously been threatened until Osimhen’s emergence.
His physical strength and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for defenders throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
Yekini’s legacy is inseparable from Nigeria’s first World Cup goal in 1994, scored against Bulgaria. His emotional celebration – clutching the net and shouting in disbelief – became one of the most enduring images in World Cup history.
He also finished as the tournament’s top scorer in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON triumph.
Yekini remains the benchmark against which all Nigerian players are measured.
Former NBA player Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 following a battle with brain cancer, his family has announced.
Collins passed away after what his family described as a “valiant fight” with glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer.
As reported by the BBC on Wednesday, the announcement was shared through the National Basketball Association.
He revealed in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with the disease after experiencing difficulties with concentration. Doctors later confirmed the presence of a rapidly spreading brain tumour, which he described as “a monster with tentacles spreading across the underside of my brain.”
At the time of his diagnosis, Collins said he was undergoing treatment to slow the progression of the illness, including targeted chemotherapy and medication such as Avastin, as well as specialist treatment abroad.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his influence extended far beyond basketball.
“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA, and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” Silver said.
He added that Collins would be remembered not only for breaking barriers but also for his kindness and humanity.
Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first active male athlete in a major American professional team sport to publicly come out as gay.
His announcement, published in Sports Illustrated, was widely regarded as a landmark moment for LGBTQ visibility in sport.
At the time, Collins was a free agent, and it was unclear whether his decision would end his NBA career. He later returned to the league, rejoining the Brooklyn Nets, the team with which he began his career.
Over a 13-season NBA career, Collins played for six teams, including the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics. Known for his defensive role at center, he was respected as a steady presence in the locker room.
The Nets said they were “heartbroken” by his death, praising both his contributions on the court and his wider impact on the sport.
“Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person,” the team said. “His courage and authenticity helped move the game—and the world—forward.”
After retiring in 2014, Collins was named among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. He later continued advocacy work for inclusion in sport and spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention alongside his twin brother and fellow former NBA player Jarron Collins.
Former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery described Collins as one of the university’s great players and said his passing marked a “sad day” for basketball.
Collins is being remembered as a trailblazing athlete whose openness and courage helped reshape attitudes toward LGBTQ players in professional sports.
Nigeria’s ambition to assemble a formidable basketball squad ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics has received a major boost after four National Basketball Association players reportedly expressed their willingness to represent D’Tigers following the appointment of David Fizdale as head coach, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Fizdale, a former NBA head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, recently worked as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns between 2023 and 2025 before taking charge of Nigeria’s men’s national team.
Basketball journalist and scout Coach Hova revealed that Aaron Nesmith has already committed to representing Nigeria in the next international basketball window.
Confirming the development, he wrote on X, “Sources close to me have confirmed that Aaron Nesmith has committed to representing the D’Tigers in the upcoming international basketball window.”
The Indiana Pacers forward was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft before joining Indiana in 2022.
Hova also disclosed that Desmond Bane had begun processing his international switch to Nigeria ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
“Desmond Bane is committed and already processing his switch to represent D’Tigers ahead of the 2028 Olympics,” he stated.
According to the Hova, Bane has also been instrumental in encouraging other Nigerian-heritage NBA players to join the national team project, including Nesmith.
Earlier this year, Bane himself publicly declared his interest in representing Nigeria during a BBC interview in January 2026.
The Orlando Magic guard explained that he wanted to help gather top Nigerian-eligible players for a serious Olympic challenge.
“We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen,” Bane said.
He also admitted that he had already spoken with other players about joining D’Tigers.
“I’d talk to Aaron Nesmith,” he said.
“Me and Gabe Vincent also talked about it a little bit. We need to do it.”
Meanwhile, journalist Kehinde Bamidele further reported that Onyeka Okongwu remains interested in representing Nigeria under Fizdale.
According to him, “Okongwu remains interested in representing D’Tigers of Nigeria under new head coach David Fizdale.”
The Atlanta Hawks centre previously missed out on a potential invitation due to short notice, but talks are said to be ongoing ahead of the July international window.
Bamidele also reported that Ayo Dosunmu has yet to make a final commitment to Nigeria, although the new coaching crew are keen to convince him.
“Ayo Dosunmu is yet to commit to D’Tigers of Nigeria,” Bamidele wrote.
“Fizdale understands that one of his early priorities will be convincing the Wolves guard to represent Nigeria.”
The guard previously represented the United States at the youth level, winning gold at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship, meaning any switch could involve additional clearance procedures.
Fizdale has already made clear that qualifying Nigeria for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics remains his biggest ambition as D’Tigers coach.
After his appointment by the Nigeria Basketball Federation on Saturday, Fizdale told ESPN that leading Nigeria to the Olympics in his hometown would represent a career-defining achievement.
Nigeria have previously featured at the Olympic Games in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but are still chasing their first basketball medal on the global stage.
Three-time African champion Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will not be able to defend his shot put title at this year’s CAA African Championships in Ghana after withdrawing from Nigeria’s contingent, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Enekwechi’s absence was confirmed on Monday, a day before the championship begins at the University of Ghana Sports Complex, where the event will run from May 12 to 17.
His withdrawal leaves Nigeria with a lean line-up in the shot put events following the absence of women’s African shot put record holder, Jessica Oji.
Decathlon national record holder Jami Schlueter is also unable to join the rest of the Nigerian contingent in Ghana due to visa issues.
“Another withdrawal for Nigeria — Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will not be participating at the 2026 African Championships in Ghana. Big Chuks will not be defending the title he won three consecutive times. Emmanuel Audu and Divine Oladipo will represent Nigeria in the shot put events in Accra,” Making of Champions’ Christopher Maduewesi posted on X on Monday.
Enekwechi’s absence comes as a surprise after he recently competed at the Simbine Classic in South Africa.
All efforts to ascertain why the 33-year-old will miss the championship were unsuccessful, as officials and coaches of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria were unreachable as of the time of filing this report.
His season’s best mark in the event is 21.74m, which earned him a second-place finish at the Drake Relays on April 24.
The 33-year-old has won the last three editions of the African Championships since making his debut at the 2018 edition in Asaba.
Earlier this season, Enekwechi delivered a modest performance in the men’s shot put at the World Indoor Championships, finishing 11th with a best throw of 20.04m in a field of 17 athletes.
Last year, he became the first African to surpass the 22-metre barrier in the men’s shot put. He also owns seven of the top 10 African all-time marks after delivering a groundbreaking performance at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, where he broke the African record with a throw of 22.10m to finish third.
