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 icons—stars who first made a name in the Nigerian Professional Football League or grassroots academies before catching the eye of European scouts.
In the second edition, we turn the spotlight on the stars of the current generation. These players are some of the most talented of the current crop of Super Eagles players, and their story is made all the more special by their humble beginnings here on home soil.
Moses Simon – GBS Academy
The tricky Nigerian winger has terrorised Ligue 1 defences since he arrived in France, as defenders often struggle to contain his mesmerising skills. There is an air of inevitability surrounding his ability to leave them spellbound in the wake of his magical brilliance.
Born in Jos, Moses Simon is the son of a military man raised in the military barracks. Opting against pursuing a military career, he found solace in football. He is a distinguished product of the famed GBS Academy that produced Ahmed Musa. He was hailed as a rare talent by his academy manager, an incredibly gifted player.
His talents earned him several admirers within and outside Nigeria in 2013, garnering strong interest from Kaduna United. Subsequently, he had a trial at AFC Ajax, a club known for developing some of the finest talents in football history. Still, they opted against signing Moses Simon and decided a move to their partner club was better for his development. Ultimately, he signed for Slovak side AS Trenčín in January 2014 and hit the ground running immediately.
A journey to the Belgian Pro League and the Spanish top flight ensued afterward as he journeyed around Europe before settling in France. He has established himself as a regular in the Nantes team, making a double century of appearances for The Canaries. He has become one of the best African players in Ligue 1. In June 2025, Moses Simon secured a transfer to the newly promoted French team Paris FC.
European Clubs
- Trenčín
- Gent
- Levante
- Nantes
- Paris FC
Kelechi Iheanacho – Taye Academy
Kelechi Iheanacho has become a household name in African football. Seniorman Kelz, as he is fondly called, started his career in Nigeria with Taye Academy in Owerri, Imo State. The Owerri-born talent was a standout performer with the academy and earned a call-up to the Nigerian 2013 African U-17 Championship squad. Like other Nigerian greats before his time, he dominated headlines. He spearheaded The Flying Eaglets’ second-placed finish in the tournament, qualifying them for the U-17 World Cup and clinching the silver boot.
He was at his exceptional best for the Golden Eaglets on the global stage, leading them to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Championship, netting a goal to help them see off Mexico in the final. He set the tournament alight in the opening game with four goals against Mexico. Iheanacho clinched the Best Player of the Tournament Award and the Silver Boot, ending the tournament as the second-highest goalscorer to lead the young Nigerian team to a record fourth World Championship at the U-17 level. Iheanacho recorded 6 goals and 7 assists during the tournament.
Subsequently, Kelechi Iheanacho clinched the CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year Award in 2013, having outshone his peers. He earned the attention of top European Clubs with his superb performances, and a bidding war was ignited. A move to Manchester City ensued afterward as the Mancunian Club won the race for his signature. He swapped Manchester for the East Midlands in 2017, signing for Leicester City on a Nigerian transfer record fee. He spent 7 successful years with The Foxes, winning an FA Cup, a Community Shield, and an EFL Championship.
European Clubs
- Manchester City
- Leicester City
- Sevilla
- Middlesbrough
Victor Osimhen – Olusosun United, Synergy Ultimate & Ultimate Strikers Academy
Victor Osimhen’s football career has been full of ups and downs. Nonetheless, the Nigerian striker is dedicated to his craft and highly resilient. Goals have become synonymous with the deadly sharpshooter across Europe. From Belgium to France to Italy to Turkey, he has scored many goals.
The Lagos-born striker began his football career in Nigeria at Olusosun United before a move to Synergy Ultimate materialised. He eventually ended up at the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos.
Clinical in front of goal from a young age, Osimhen led The Golden Eaglets to a fourth-placed finish at the 2015 African U-17 Championship, clinching the Golden Boot with a tournament record 4 goals and securing a qualification spot for Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He took the world by storm as he announced himself to the global audience in style, registering 10 goals and 2 assists en route to their record-extending fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup title.
He went on an insane goalscoring streak throughout the competition, finding the back of the net in all the matches. With his alien-like numbers, he set the all-time record for the highest number of goals scored in a single U-17 World Cup tournament. He was deservedly awarded the 2015 CAF Youth Player of the Year.
After his unbelievable performance at the Under-17 World Cup, European Clubs like Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal were all interested in the teenage sensation. Arsene Wenger spoke to Osimhen on the phone, eager to sell Arsenal’s project to him. He opted to move to VFL Wolfsburg as they offered him a quick pathway to the first team. Things didn’t go as planned in Germany, and he was loaned to the Belgian Jupiler League. He was undeterred by his barren spell in Germany and regained his footing in Belgium. He has not looked back since then.
During his stint in Italy, the Nigerian striker masterminded Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years, clinching the Capocannoniere after banging a continental record 26 league goals that season.
European Clubs
- VfL Wolfsburg
- Charleroi
- Lille
- Napoli
- Galatasaray
Wilfred Ndidi – Ekosodin Stars FC & Nathaniel Boys Academy
The Nigerian midfielder has been a mainstay at the heart of Leicester’s midfield for years now. The ever-present midfielder has witnessed the team’s overhaul through different seasons and has retained his spot in the starting XI. Wilfred Ndidi never played in Nigeria’s top flight, the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Wilfred Ndidi started his forays into professional football in Lagos at Ekosodin Stars FC and moved to Nathaniel Boys Academy. He starred for Nath Boys in the Lagos Junior League, and his surreal experience at the academy shaped his career in Europe. His time with Nath Boys was a success, and he went on trial in Belgium, doing more than enough to earn his first professional contract with KRC Genk in January 2015.
He established himself as a fan favourite in Belgium, winning the Goal of the Season with an unbelievable effort before Leicester City called for his signature in 2017. The Foxes signed him as a potential replacement for N’Golo Kanté, and he linked up with compatriot Ahmed Musa at the East Midlands club. Wilfred Ndidi has witnessed some of the glorious chapters in Leicester City, playing a vital role as they clinched the FA Cup in the 2020/2021 season, the FA Community Shield at the start of the 2021/2022 season, and the EFL Championship in the 2023/2024 season.
European Clubs
- Genk
- Leicester City
Samuel Chukwueze – Future Hope, New Generation Academy & Diamond Football Academy
The nimble-footed winger has earned comparisons to his idol, Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben, owing to similarities in their playing style. His football journey started at a young age as Samuel Chukwueze made the rounds across a number of Nigerian academies. From Future Hope U-8 & U-10 to the New Generation Academy and he ended up at Diamond Football Academy in late 2012, and that’s where it all truly began for him.
He was recruited into the Academy for a tournament in Portugal, and he became the academy’s top scorer. He shone brightly during the tournament in Portugal, which his team won, and he finished as the highest goal scorer in the competition. Chukwueze was named the most valuable player in the Diamond Football Academy tournament 2016.
He earned a call-up to the Nigerian youth team and was a key member of the Golden Eaglets squad that clinched the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, winning the bronze boot for finishing as the tournament’s third-highest goalscorer. It didn’t take long for the big European Clubs to start sniffing around him. Porto, Sporting, PSG, and Salzburg were all credited with an interest in the young winger. Opting to sign for La Liga side Villarreal CF, he linked up with Villarreal’s youth side in August 2017 before he was promoted to the senior squad.
Samuel Chukwueze found success in Europe, winning the Europa League with Villarreal in 2021 while serving as a vital cog in The Yellow Submarines’ attack, and he was the tournament’s joint-highest assist maker. The following season, he helped Villarreal to an iconic UEFA Champions League run, culminating in a loss to Liverpool FC in the semi-finals. His Man of the Match performance against Bayern Munich remains iconic. He single-handedly knocked The Bavarians out of the tournament with an unforgettable performance, notching a brace and an assist as they defeated the German team. The 26-year-old winger triumphed in the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan in 2025.
European Clubs
- Villarreal
- AC Milan
Stay tuned for more episodes of Naija to the World, where we’ll continue to spotlight the football heroes who have made the most of limited opportunities to claim a place in the upper echelons of the world’s most beloved sport.
