Many players have come and gone in the Super Eagles Team, while some are still being remembered for their exploits in the National Team while some are without mincing words forgotten completely.
Such as many Nigerian offspring will live to hear and tell the stories of Nigeria’s greatest striker (Rashidi Yekini of blessed memory) for his heroics in the USA 94 World Cup becoming their first Nigerian Player to score at the FIFA World Cup – his epic celebration after netting the goal, crying while holding the net remains evergreen and has gone to become one of many historic moments of the FIFA World Cup.
Yekini who started his senior career at a Kaduna based club UNTL Kaduna (now defunct) before moving to Shooting Stars netted 37 times in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles is one of many players who made it to the Super Eagles directly from the NPFL. Sadly, Yekini has not celebrated the way a legend should be celebrated in football.
Many other players like Yekini got their places in the National team directly from the NPFL – Meaning that, NPFL has produced great footballers undoubtedly, but needs proper marketability and structure to become more attractive to players from the rest of the world. Yes! More players from the rest of the world.
Today Cheapgoals takes a look at some Nigerian players who made the NPFL a stepping stone to representing their country on the international scene. Some are clubless right now while some are retired.
Solomon Kwambe
The former Lobi Stars defender made his debut for the Super Eagles against Niger in a goalless friendly on 15 August 2012 before he was later selected for Nigeria’s 23 man squad by Stephen Keshi (Late) at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Solomon Kwambe was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship. He currently plays for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship.
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Joseph Akpala
Joseph is a product of the Pepsi Football Academy in Lagos. He first bagged a professional contract in April 2003 with Bendel United Football Club, a Division One club in Benin City before he later joined Bendel Insurance FC in the Premier Division of the Nigerian Professional League, in February 2005. The former Super Eagles player is currently clubless after his exit from Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Faisaly last year.
Chigozie Agbim
Perhaps the most loathed Nigerian goalkeeper right now. Agbim made his international debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly against Angola in January 2012. The Delta Force shot-stopper was selected for Nigeria’s squad at the 2013 AFCON as well as the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Sunday Mba
A player that some Nigerians will have to make a research about before getting to know a little about him has to be the AFCON 2013 decider, Sunday Mba. The former Nigerian attacking midfielder last played as a for Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey. Currently clubless and looks forward to playing football again.
Ahmed Musa
The current Super Eagles captain has gone on to attain greater heights with the round leather game having played for big teams in Europe like Leicester City, CSKA Moscow and the likes. He became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup game, after scoring twice at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil against Argentina and becomes Nigeria’s highest goal scorer at the World Cup when he scored twice against Iceland in the group stage game of the FIFA 2018 World Cup.
Godfrey Oboabona
A defender (Left Back ) for the Super Eagles at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa seems to have faded away in the international scene after helping Nigeria to secure her 3rd AFCON title against Burkina Faso in 2013. The 29-year-old has been capped 39 times by Nigeria and currently searching for a new club, having ended his stint with Croatian club HNK Gorica.
Femi Opabunmi
He made his debut in 2002 against Kenya scoring the second goal in a 3-0 win. He was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup playing against England in the last group stage match becoming the 3rd youngest player to ever play in the World Cup finals after Norman Whiteside and Samuel Eto’o. He played for a few clubs, including Shooting Stars, Grasshoppers Zürich (Switzerland), Hapoel Beer Sheva and Chamois Niortais in France. He retired from football in 2006 due to serious glaucoma. He is now totally blind in the right eye.
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Azubuike Egwuekwe
This Lafia born central defender has played club football for Nasarawa United, Yerima Strikers, Warri Wolves, KuPS and currently plays for SuperSports United. His first match for Nigeria was in 2012 and he has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 AFCON by Coach Stephen Keshi (Late). He was also selected for Nigeria’s squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 African Nations Championship.
Ejike Uzoenyi
Ejike is a left-winger with brilliant techniques and crazy footwork. He made his international debut for Nigeria in 2012 and has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 African Cup of Nations. He was as well named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship and was selected as the most valuable player of the tournament.
Vincent Enyeama
Apparently the most popular in this list; He’s currently Nigeria’s most capped player of all time with 101 caps to his name as well as many honors for himself. The Akwa Ibom born shot-stopper was in goal during Enyimba’s reign on the continent winning the NPFL in 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively. As well as the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004. He played for the super eagles from 2002 to 2015 (13 years) and was forced to retire after the bust-up between him and the then Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Okechukwu Oliseh.
Kunle Odunlami
The late coach Keshi gave many players chances to showcase their talents, one of them is Kunle who made his debut for the Super Eagles at the age of 22. He was part of the Nigeria National Football Team squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship team, where he started every game and made the tournament’s Best XI as the team placed 3rd.
Juwon Oshaniwa
Juwon is part of the Super Eagles team that clinched the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. The 29-year-old has previously played for Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Sharks in Nigeria, Ashdod in Israel and Heart of Midlothian in Scotland. Having represented Nigerian at the World Cup, Juwon now plies his trade in the Nigeria Professional Football League with Akwa United.
