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 this edition, we celebrate the journey of upcoming Nigerian football stars who are following in the footsteps of legends and eager to carve their own iconic legacy in Europe.
Raphael Onyedika – FC Ebedei
A proud Nigerian Street Football School graduate, midfield maestro Raphael Onyedika is one of us. Like most Nigerian children, Onyedika took his first steps into football on Nigerian streets at a young age before signing up for FC Ebedei at 15. Ebedei is famed for producing Obafemi Martins, Paul Onuachu, and Frank Onyeka. Onyedika spent three years at the academy before he earned his big break, a move to Denmark. He signed for FC Midtjylland and was drafted into their U19 team as he adapted to life abroad. He was loaned to FC Fredericia, Midtjylland’s sister club, to gain professional experience, and a positional change occurred.
Having featured as a centre back for FCM U19 predominantly, he was utilised in the holding midfield role as a 6. He anchored the midfield expertly and earned an inclusion in TV3 Sport’s team of the year, doing more than enough to earn a recall to Midtjylland. Following a string of impressive performances in the Danish Superliga, he earned a move to the Belgian Pro League with Club Brugge and has established himself as one of the best players in the league. Raphael Onyedika has been linked with a move to the English Premier League this summer.
European Clubs
- FC Midtjylland
- FC Fredericia
- Club Brugge
Victor Boniface – Real Sapphire FC
An avid entertainer on and off the pitch, Victor Boniface is hard to get enough of. Born in a military barracks, Boniface took his first steps into professional football at the Real Sapphire FC. In January 2018, he had a brief loan stint with Lefke TSK in Northern Cyprus and returned to the Nigerian Club in July.
On a scouting trip to Nigeria, Bodø/Glimt’s Sporting director Aasmund Bjørkan was impressed by Boniface’s talent, giving him a chance for trials at the Norwegian Club. He aced his trials and signed a professional contract with the club in 2019. Boniface honed his skills on a professional level & found his breakthrough during his stint with Bodø/Glimt. Famed for his mastery in exorcising title jinxes, he led them to their maiden league title triumph, and his stellar form in Norway earned him a move to Union Saint-Gilloise in 2022.
Clinical in front of the goal and a handful for opposition defenders, Victor Boniface was exemplary for USG. He spearheaded their fairytale run in the UEFA Europa League, finishing as joint top scorer alongside Marcus Rashford. Having tormented them in their quarter-final Europa League fixture, Bayer Leverkusen snapped up his services at the end of the season, and he was unplayable as Die Werkself went on a historic unbeaten Bundesliga campaign. The rest, as they say, is history.
European Clubs
- Lefke TSK
- Bodø/Glimt
- Union SG
- Bayer Leverkusen
Umar Sadiq – Kusa Boys Future of Africa Football Academy & Football College Abuja
A Naija boy through and through, Umar Sadiq grew up playing football on Nigerian streets. The son of a retired footballer, the Kaduna native joined local team Kusa Boys before a move to the Future of Africa Football Academy materialised. Eventually, he linked up with Football College Abuja and was a mainstay in the Abuja-based club before his move to Europe.
He led the Abuja Boys to a historic maiden triumph at the 61st edition of the Kvarner Riviera international youth tournament in Croatia, finishing the tournament as the highest goal scorer. Simultaneously, they became the first African team to win the tournament. His exceptional goal-scoring ability at the tournament earned him a move to Italy with the Italian Club Spezia at 16.
He starred for Spezia’s youth team but failed to make a senior appearance before he was sold. The Nigerian striker has since found solace in Spain.
A full-fledged Nigerian international, Sadiq famously netted a brace as Nigeria clinched the Olympic bronze following a resounding victory against Honduras at Rio 2016. He was the joint second-highest goal scorer at the tournament, alongside the likes of Neymar Jr.
European Clubs
- Spezia
- Lavagnese
- Roma
- Bologna
- Torino
- NAC Breda
- Rangers
- Perugia
- Partizan
- Almería
- Real Sociedad
- Valencia
Taiwo Awoniyi – United Academy & Imperial Soccer Academy
The lanky forward has been around forever, and it’s unbelievable that he is just 27. An ardent football fanatic, he often sprang the household into chaos by running away to play football against his father’s opposition and beatings.
From a young age, a standout talent in academics and football, Taiwo Awoniyi played football in school before joining United Academy in Kwara. The Ilorin-born forward was spotted by Seyi Olofinjana in 2010 after he clinched the Most Valuable Player Award at a Coca-Cola tournament in London, and Olofinjana recruited him into his Imperial Soccer Academy.
Taiwo Awoniyi represented Nigeria at the youth levels and led the Golden Eaglets to FIFA U-17 World Cup glory in 2013, playing all seven games and netting four goals en route to the title. Two years later, he was the driving force behind the youthful Nigerian team’s continental triumph at the 2015 AFCON U-20 Championship and donned the national team colours at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. His superb performances nationally & internationally earned him several European suitors, eventually opting to sign for English Football giants Liverpool FC.
A series of loan spells around Europe ensued as the Reds loaned him out to gain professional experience before he was snapped up by Union Berlin permanently in 2021. Despite being on their books for six years, Taiwo Awoniyi failed to make a senior appearance for Liverpool, owing to his failure to secure a work permit in England at the time.
Fate works mysteriously, and his dream of playing in the English Premier League was realised when he signed for Nottingham Forest in 2022.
European Clubs
- Liverpool
- FSV Frankfurt
- NEC Nijmegen
- Royal Excel Mouscron
- Gent
- Mainz 05
- Union Berlin
- Nottingham Forest
Frank Onyeka – Flamingo Football Academy, Faith Motors Academy & FC Ebedei
The midfield juggernaut came from humble origins in Edo State. Unconvinced by his chances of going pro, his mother was against his footballing career in his younger years. The Benin native commenced his football journey with the Flamingo Football Academy and ended up at the Faith Motors Academy. Frank Onyeka starred for Faith Motors Academy, where he was discovered by Sunday Oliseh’s brother, Churchill Oliseh, the same man credited with discovering Obafemi Martins in the late 90s.
Despite Frank Onyeka’s firm belief that he was the worst player on the pitch that day, Oliseh loved what he saw. Subsequently, he registered the teenage sensation at his academy, FC Ebedei. He was on the books of Ebedei till a trial opportunity opened for him at Ebedei’s affiliate club FC Midjylland. His three-month trial in Denmark was successful. Midjylland handed him an 18-month deal to join the Danish Superliga club, following in the footsteps of compatriots Paul Onuachu, Babajide David, and Sylvester Igboun.
Utilised in multiple positions for Midjylland, Frank The Tank was a huge success in Denmark individually and collectively, prompting Brentford FC to break the bank on him. His ascent to the top of the game has been marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, hard work, and perseverance, braving the fight against all odds. A senior international for the Super Eagles, he started all seven games as Nigeria ended AFCON 2023 as runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast.
European Clubs
- Midtjylland
- Brentford
- FC Augsburg
