From dusty pitches in Jos and Lagos to the dazzling lights of Stamford Bridge and the San Siro, Nigerian footballers have blazed a trail from local obscurity to global fame. Naija to the World is a weekly series that celebrates the incredible journeys of our football iconsβstars who first made a name in the Nigerian Professional Football League or grassroots academies before catching the eye of European scouts.
This edition features Nigeria’s iconic Dream Team members at the 1996 Olympics and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Trailblazers of Nigerian football nationally and globally, we celebrate their long-lasting impact on the beautiful game.
Finidi George – Calabar Rovers & Sharks
Pacey, pinpoint crosses, skillful manoeuvres & mesmerising skills; Finidi George was an unstoppable winger. A football fanatic from a young age, he was obsessed with football and made it a habit to tune his radio to listen to commentaries of English football matches. His parents disagreed over his footballing endeavours, but his mother’s encouragement convinced his father.
At 17, he started playing for Port Harcourt Sharks. A brief spell at Calabar Rovers ensued before he was invited to join a Nigerian training camp in Holland. During one of their matches against a First Division side, a scout from AFC Ajax was impressed with Finidi’s performance, and he signed him up from Sharks in 1993, marking the start of an iconic career.
He joined Ajax alongside compatriot Nwankwo Kanu. An injury to a starter in the first XI cleared his pathway to the starting XI, and he established himself as a guaranteed starter in no time.
A key member of Ajax’s dominant side in the mid-90s, Finidi George led the Dutch club to two consecutive Champions League finals, winning one in 1995. Following a trophy-laden spell in the Netherlands, he departed for Spain to sign for Real Betis, as the Spanish club pipped Real Madrid to his signing. The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner became a revered figure in Andalusia, and his versatility, tricks, skills, and technical abilities earned him the admiration of fans. He is one of Nigeria’s greatest wingers, if not the greatest.
European Clubs
- Ajax
- Betis
- Mallorca
- Ipswich Town
- Real Mallorca
Yakubu Aiyegbeni – Julius Berger
Born in Edo State, Yakubu Aiyegbeni started his career with Julius Berger FC in Lagos, joining the club at 15. His strong performances earned him a season-long loan move to Gil Vicente. Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Haifa FC snapped up his services from Julius Berger in the summer of 1999.
Big Yak has faced endless criticism from Nigerians over his miss in the 2010 FIFA World Cup against South Korea; nevertheless, he was a deadly finisher at the peak of his powers and remains one of the finest African strikers in history. He is the first African to net a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League, netting a resounding treble in their three-nil rout of Olympiakos. Subsequently, he moved to England with Championship side Portsmouth FC and fired them back to the Premier League at the end of the season.
He established himself as an elite marksman in England’s top-flight, netting a haul twice. His run with Middlesbrough in the UEFA Europa League in the 2005/2006 season remains one of his most memorable career moments, culminating in a loss to Sevilla FC in the final.
He is the highest-scoring Nigerian and fourth-highest-scoring African in EPL history, behind Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Didier Drogba.
European Clubs
- Maccabi Haifa
- Hapoel Kfar Saba
- Portsmouth
- Middlesbrough
- Everton
- Leicester City
- Blackburn Rovers
- Reading
- Kayserispor
- Coventry City
Sunday Oliseh – Julius Berger
Almost every Nigerian male has a story of playing football on murky, uneven, dust-filled streets in Nigeria, and Sunday Oliseh is no exception. A pioneer of Nigerian football, Oliseh’s parents strongly opposed his desire to play football at a young age because building a profitable career out of football was seen as a distant dream back then. All reservations they had against his passion for football faded into oblivion when he earned a contract at local club Julius Berger FC (now known as Bridge Boys), his enormous salary laid the foundation for a trailblazing career.
Following a successful trial with scouts from Belgium, he signed for Belgian Club RFC Liege in 1991. The 1994 AFCON winner starred for them multiple times before a move to Italian Club AC Reggiana materialised after the 1994 World Cup. Subsequently, he journeyed around the biggest clubs in Europe. A physical beast blessed with an immaculate passing range and superb technical abilities, Oliseh was exceptional. The former Super Eagles captain was a great stalwart at the base of the midfield, and he is one of Nigeria’s greatest midfielders. He clinched a Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund and an Eredivisie title with Ajax in his trophy-laden career.
A member of Nigeria’s legendary Atlanta ’96 Dream Team, he was a member of the Nigerian team that made Nigeria’s debut appearance at the World Cup finals in 1994, where they crashed out in the Round of 16. He is fondly remembered for his laser-powered belter in their 3:2 win against Spain at the 1998 World Cup. He is the brother of Churchill Oliseh, the man credited with discovering Obafemi Martins and Frank Onyeka.
European Clubs
- RFC Liège
- AC Reggiana
- 1. FC KΓΆln
- AFC Ajax
- Juventus FC
- Borussia Dortmund
- VfL Bochum
- Genk
Victor Ikpeba – Eko Holiday Inn & ACB Football club
Born in Benin, forged in Liege, and a legend in Monaco, Victor Ikpeba was a force of nature. A versatile forward, pacey, dangerous, and capable of playing across the frontline, The Prince of Monaco could do it all. Ikpeba was special from a young age, spearheading his secondary school’s conquest in Benin City. He was briefly featured for the amateur club Eko Holiday Inn before linking up with the ACB Football club in Lagos.
He starred for the Golden Eaglets at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Cup, leading them to the quarter finals where they lost to eventual Champions Saudi Arabia on penalties, finishing as the joint second-highest goalscorer despite their early exit. His performances caught the attention of European scouts, and Belgian club RFC Liège made a quick move to secure his signature, where he was joined by compatriot Sunday Oliseh later on. Ikpeba honed his skills and became a well-rounded footballer in Belgium.
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist became the second Nigerian to win the Ebony Shoe award, awarded to the Best African Player in Belgium, and bagged a move to AS Monaco in 1993 following a string of stellar performances. He was groomed under the tutelage of ArsΓ¨ne Wenger in France, a man famed for his expertise in developing young talents. The 1997 African Footballer of the Year shook off a slow start to become a huge success and one of the best players in Monaco’s history, leading them to a Ligue 1 title and the Semifinals of the Champions League and Europa League.
European Clubs
- RFC Liège
- Monaco
- Borussia Dortmund
- Real Betis
- Charleroi
Daniel Amokachi – Ranchers Bees
Nigeria has a long history of producing super-talented attackers, and Daniel Amokachi is a worthy inclusion in the unending list. Amokachi joined the Ranchers Bees at 16 and clinched the now-defunct 1989 West African Football Union trophy in his only season with the Kaduna-based club. He was spotted by Nigerian Coach Clemens Westerhof and earned a call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the 1990 AFCON. Afterwards, he earned a move to Club Brugge, linking up with the Belgian Club’s youth side.
Fondly regarded as The Bull, his bullish, rampaging attacking style allowed him to progress quickly through the youth ranks, fast-tracking his inclusion in the senior side. Amokachi shot to global fame in Belgium through his excellent performances in the national league and European competitions. Following a memorable 1994 World Cup campaign, Everton swooped in to secure his services for a club record fee.
Nicknamed Amo-Taxi during bus time with Everton, he became a cult hero in Merseyside for his jaw-dropping displays. He famously substituted himself into a semi-final FA Cup match against Tottenham and netted two goals to lead Everton to the final, where they defeated Manchester United. It is their most recent major trophy.
The man who scored the first goal in the newly rebranded UEFA Champions League in 1992 and danced in delight at the corner flag after netting at the 1994 World Cup was beloved at home and abroad.
European Clubs
- Club Brugge
- Everton
- BeΕiktaΕ
