Flying the flag: Nigerian footballers thriving on the international scene 

has a deep-rooted history in professional football, and we're here to celebrate the best Nigerian Footballers of 2023 that have made an impact internationally. Some of the best talents in football history stemmed from the Giant of Africa. Still, the most special skills have transitioned their talents from African soil to the elite levels in Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 football. 
 

Nigerian Football in 2023: The Best 

Nigeria isn't short of passion, particularly regarding football, as it's the most popular sport in the nation. The Nigerian squad is a regular competitor for international titles and has notably won the Africa Cup of Nations on three occasions and has reached the World Cup round of 16 three times. 

Throughout history, many of the country's top-tier talent have competed throughout Europe, specifically England. There have been 42 Nigerian players – past and present - competing in the Premier League. When Efan Ekoku debuted for Norwich City in 1993 to become the first-ever Nigerian-born player in the EPL, he sparked a generational dream. He became an inspiration for those to come. 

There are two names, however, that stand tall in terms of popularity; Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Jay-Jay Okocha are regarded as the most famous Nigerian footballers of all time. But there's a long list of superstars, including Victor Moses, Wilfred Ndidi, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, and Finidi George, to name a few. 

Nigerian football is peaking in today's climate, and the list of high-profile names is endless. With that said, let's take a more in-depth look at some of the country's most formidable footballers who've touched down on international waters and are currently on top of the game.  

Victor Osimhen  

It could be argued that 24-year-old Victor Osimhen isn't just the greatest talent out of Nigeria but the No.1 player in the world. Many critics have argued the youngster is a greater talent than Erling Haaland, and with 26 goals for Serie A-winning side Napoli this past season, this argument is undoubtedly valid. 

Osimhen collected the Serie A young player of the year award in 2021/22 to become the team's most prolific goal scorer this season as Napoli made history and won the Serie A title. 

He's played worldwide from Wolfsburg, Charleroi, and Lille to Napoli and has 35 caps total for Nigeria's youth and senior squad combined.   

Terem Moffi  

Terem Moffi is another Nigerian youngster making his name known in European football. Competing for Ligue 1's Lorient side in 2021/22, he was the team's top scorer and just fell short of assisting the squad into European competition. His talents didn't go unnoticed, and he's currently on loan to Nice. 

From 16 appearances under the Nice banner, Moffi has already netted six goals. He's a force to be reckoned with and will certainly be called up for the Nigerian squad to extend the nine caps he's already earned. 

Bukayo Saka  

He was born and raised in Ealing, London, but the bloodline of Bukayo Saka is 100% Nigerian. He's Arsenal's most prized youngster and, at the age of 21, has already accomplished feats that most professionals dream of. 

Many footballers born in Nigeria or of Nigerian descent have represented the England squad, and Saka has done it emphatically. Aged just 18, he made his England debut, and with 26 caps, has netted eight goals, three of which came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he was a great anytime goalscorer bets.  

Saka can effortlessly switch between the wing, midfield, and defence, which makes him an ideal candidate to consider when using the best new UK betting sites. He was a crucial part of Arsenal's incredibly successful second-place finish in the EPL this season and is a huge reason why Arsenal has many Nigerian supporters. 

Eberechi Eze  

Eberechi Eze was born in London and spent the majority of his youth career playing for noteworthy clubs such as Arsenal, Fulham, and Millwall. His senior career took a similar path, as he began with Queens Park Rangers but is now a valued competitor in the Premier League for Crystal Palace.

Much like Saka, Eberechi is an ultra-talented youngster of Nigerian ancestry and has been called upon by the Nigerian national team. However, with the opportunity to play for England, injury prevented him from making his senior debut at the European Championship. The good news, England manager Gareth Southgate has called Eze up to join the squad for 2023.  

Victor Mosses  

At the age of 32, Victor Mosses is no spring chicken compared to some of the other names on our list. However, he is one of the rare instances where a player has chosen to play for Nigeria over England. 

Moses has played for some of the most successful domestic clubs in football, including Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham, Inter Milan, and now Spartak Moscow. He represented English youth teams during his early career, but instead of opting for a position within the English national team, he debuted for Nigeria in 2012 and has played 38 games. He played during Nigeria's successful campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 and 2018 editions of the World Cup. 

Samuel Chukwueze  

The Spanish La Liga houses a notable collective of Nigerian talents, but it's Samuel Chukwueze who received the Best African Player in La Liga award of 2022-23. Earlier this year, playing for Villareal, the club he's remained loyal to since his youth, Chukwueze slipped two past Real Madrid and pushed his team to a 3-2 away win at the Bernabeu. 

He has a bright career ahead of him, and he will be an instrument in Nigeria's national squad, where he's already picked up 27 caps since 2018.  

Alex Iwobi  

Since 2015, Lagos-born Alex Iwobi has made 221 appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal and Everton combined. Seeking asylum in England allowed Iwobi to play for England under 16, U17, and U 18 teams, but his senior international career has been spent playing for Nigeria (2015 onwards). 

Iwobi has some pretty big family boots to fill, as his uncle is the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha. But at the same time, he's also fortunate to have one of the biggest inspirations out of Nigeria as an uncle.