Top 3 Nigerian Football Legends: Celebrating the Greats

Nigeria is nicknamed ‘The Giant of Africa,’ and there are several reasons why the West African state goes by the moniker, the football scene being one of them. Over the years, Nigeria has been a powerhouse for football and one of the most successful nations with top-class footballers. The nation ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings is a three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner and has qualified for six of the last eight World Cups.

One reason for its success is the exceptional footballing talent the nation boasts. These players have graced the top and popular international leagues and won titles and other individual accolades. With a brilliant young generation coming up and a line-up of retired greats, here are our picks of the top 3 Nigerian football legends:

1. Nwankwo Kanu (1992 – 2012)

Nwankwo Kanu backed his giant stature, strength, and frame on the pitch, leaving nothing but sweat whenever he kicked the ball. The 6-foot-6 forward is heavily revered in Nigeria and by some other top players, like Emmanuel Adebayor, who has openly expressed his admiration and considered him a role model and a close friend.

He is among the few Nigerian footballers who have won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995. The Champions League medal is one for the books and signifies the peak of glory in club football. With our Betano Promo Code for Nigeria, BCVIPNG, you can sign up on the platform to bet on top events like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, basketball leagues like the NBA, hockey leagues like the NHL, and baseball leagues like MLB. In addition, you can bet on boxing, where you can back other legends like Anthony Joshua, who has Nigerian roots. Our exclusive Betano Promo Code activates a 50% bonus of up to ₦200.000 for sportsbook and casino sections. You’ll only need to deposit at least ₦100 to claim. After the sign-up deal, you can still claim existing player promo code deals and access top Betano features like live streaming and mobile apps.

Besides Ajax, Nwankwo has played for other top clubs, including Arsenal FC. At the club, he was part of the 2003/2004 invincible squad that avoided defeat the entire season. In addition to the ‘golden’ Premier League trophy, he won an FA Cup and Community Charity Shield with the London-based team. He has also played for Inter Milan, West Bromwich Albion, and Portsmouth. His career with the Super Eagles saw him capped 86 times, scoring 12 times and assisting 4 times. Kanu won an Olympic gold medal with the Super Eagles in 1996 and participated in the 1998, 2002, and 2010 World Cup editions.

2. Jay-Jay Okocha (1990 – 2008)

Augustine Azuka ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha is another popular face of football in Nigeria. A common saying is that he was so good they had to name him twice. A few midfield players in Nigeria or globally would match his dribbling skills and back his football ability with goals and assists at the top clubs he played for. They included PSG, Fenerbache, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hull City, and Bolton Wanderers. He is not known for winning many titles like his counterparts, but he was a joy to watch.

At the national level, he represented the country in different tournaments and played a crucial role in the AFCON win in 1994 and the Olympic gold in 1995-96. He was capped 73 times while playing for the Super Eagles, scoring 14 goals and assisting twice. He is also an uncle to Alex Iwobi of Fulham FC. He is said to have played a vital role in luring his nephew to play for Nigeria over England, despite Iwobi being eligible for England due to his dual citizenship.

3. John Obi Mikel (2004 – 2021)

John Obi Mikel introduced himself to the footballing world in the 2005 World Youth Championship, where he played a major role in Nigeria’s second-place finish. The midfielder has had success at the club and international level, winning major trophies.

At club level, John Obi Mikel won 11 trophies with Chelsea FC, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, two English Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League cups, now known as EFL Cups, and one Community Charity Shield.

He was so valuable to the team that at one point, Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, offered to send special forces to rescue Mikel’s father, who was kidnapped. The unfortunate incident happened two hours before Nigeria and Argentina’s 2018 World Cup match.

He was a great servant of the team, having played for the Super Eagles 91 times, scoring 6 times and assisting 12 times. In his 14-year international career, Mikel won the 2013 AFCON Cup and helped his team secure the bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics.