FC NAIJA'S GREATEST 11 NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS OF ALL TIME. DO YOU AGREE? WHO SHOULD BE IN OR OUT OF THIS LIST

The list of Nigeria’s Greatest XI will be controversial but the panel did their best using criteria like what the player won individually, what they won with the national team and the effect they had on the Nigerian football clime.


Goalkeeper – Peter Rufai
‘Dodo Mayana’ is the standard bearer for goalkeepers in this country. He won the Nations Cup with arguably the greatest Super Eagles team in 1994 and thereafter led the team to the World Cup, where they were three minutes of getting to the quarterfinals. His club sojourn was not very rich being a goalkeeper from Africa but his charisma and strengths are still been envied today.
Right back – Yisa Sofoluwe
The Eagles have not had a defender as skillful and as committed as the slim and humble Sofoluwe whose playing career was cut short by a knee injury.
Left back – Celestine Babayaro
World Cup winner at the U-17 level, ‘Cele’ as he is famously known blossomed early with Anderlecht befor making the switch to Chelsea, where he won the European Winners Cup. He also was part of the U-23 team that won Olympic gold in 1996 though he never quite fulfilled his potential with the national team.
Centre Back 1 – Christian Chukwu
‘Chairman’ Chukwu is the first Green Eagles captain to lift the Nations Cup. He was also captain of the all-conquering Enugu Rangers in the late 70s and early 80s. A commanding figure who scored the odd goal for his club and the national team.
Centre Back 2 – Stephen Keshi
The most successful national team captain nicknamed the ‘Big Boss’ blazed the trail that led many Nigerian footballers to Europe and Nigeria has been the better for it since he eloped to Cote d’Ivoire in 1990. The first Nigeria that was flown in a chartered flight to honour a national call up at the 1992 Nations Cup.
Defensive Midfield – Sunday Oliseh
It was a very close battle between Oliseh and the late Mudashiru Lawal but Oliseh gets the nod because of his foreign exploits with the likes of Ajax, Juventus and Borrusia Dortmund, all stellar names that ‘Sunny’ played for. His heroics at the 1994 Nations Cup win and the 1996 Olympics gold finally edged him ahead.
Offensive Midfield – Austin Okocha
This was an overwhelming choice. No one can quite come close to the mercurial ‘Jay Jay’. We are left with the memories but the skills shown by this guy could literally curl your toes. Did not mature on time to exhibit his skills at the very highest level but at the 1998 World Cup, he put on a show. The fans are still hankering after their ‘Jay Jay’ as every midfield hopeful from the U-17 up has had to adopt the heavy tag of the ‘Next Jay Jay’ but there will be only one – ever!
Right Winger – Finidi George
There will always be that final accurate cross that would lead to a goal and the crosser would have been ‘Finito’. Majestic, quick, accurate with no fuss was this Ajax legend. Jari Litmanen would never forget this Nigerian, who created over 70% of his goals at their time in Holland with Ajax.
Left Winger – Emmanuel Amuneke
Bustling wiinger who will forever be remembered for those two goals he scored against Zambia at the 1994 Nations Cup. He also won the accolade of Africa’s best before becoming the first Nigerian to play for Barcelona. It will continually be debated that Italy injured Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi on purpose and that was why the Eagles lost to Italy in 1994.
Striker 1 – Kanu Nwankwo
The most decorated Nigerian player – from Ajax to Inter Milan to Arsenal and then to Portsmouth. He won accolades all through his career and then those two goals against Brazil in the Olympic semifinal in 1996 can never be forgotten.
Always struggled to replicate his club form in the national team but was one who can not be accused of never giving a 100%.
Striker 2 – Rashidi Yekini
Nothing to be said about the ‘Goalsfather’ that has not been said. He still leads the way as the highest ever goal scorer for the Super Eagles with his 37 goals in 58 appearances. Cannot recollect ‘Gangling’ lose any penalty that he took. He scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup goal and the goal celebration is of iconic status.