When its comes to the Game of football, You hardly look for a footballing nation without spotting a Nigerian in the League. Nigerians Generally are so passionate about football whether as a fan or a professional. The professionals are not limited to the Nigerian League as they spread their Legacy to Nations both Far and Near including top European clubs. In the course of their professional football tour, Many Nigerians have played for Top teams you Didn't Take Note of. 


 Today, we take a look at 15 Nigerians that has featured or represented a particular club that you didn't take note of or might have forgotten About.

1. PETER OSAZE ODEMWINGIE (LILLE) 


The Former Super Eagles forward is well remembered for his playing time with EPL side Westbrom where he actually peaked in his career hitting 30 goals in 87 appearances for the Baggies. Little did we know or probably forgotten that the russian born Nigerian forward has had a stint with French Ligue 1 side, Lille. Osaze had 75 appearnces and 23 goals to his name during his at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Osaze has since quit football and currently Pursuing a career in golf.

2. TAIWO AWONIYI (LIVERPOOL)


Well this might come as a surprise to let you know that Taiwo Awoniyi is currently a liverpool Player. Yes you read that very clear! The Nigerian U-23 star signed for Liverpool on August 31st 2015 but is yet to feature for the reds. Awoniyi has been involved in countless number of loan spells ever since moving to England. The FIFA U-17 World cup and African U-20 championship winner seems not to be happy with the way things have turn out for him and has voiced out his frustrations and desire to play for Liverpool. To be realistic here, we don't see Awoniyi breaking into the liverpool star studded team. Awoniyi is currently on loan at Mainz in the German Bundesliga and has played 6 games so far this season with zero goals contributions,hence his frustration.



READ ALSO: Messi or Ronaldo? Ighalo Decides.
 

3. JOSEPH  YOBO (MARSEILLE)


The Former captain and newly appointed coach of the Super Eagles is popularly remembered for the time he spent in England with Premier League side, Everton. Yobo bagged a total of 220 appearances and 8 goals for Everton, his highest appearance and goals for a club side, not bad for a Central Defender. Before his Move to Everton , Joseph Yobo last featured as a full time player for French league giants, Marseille. He was later sent on loan to Tenerife in Spain. Yobo only had 23 appearances with no goal for Marseille.

4. NWANKWO KANU (WESTBROM)


The Joint fourth Most capped player for the Super Eagles is widely Considered as a Legendary Arsenal and Portsmouth Player, No doubt about that! Kanu got to the peak of his career when he featured for the Gunners from 1999-2004. Papilo as fondly called is one of Nigeria's Most decorated player and Arguably the best ever with a handful of trophies and individual awards. 
When we talk about the teams Kanu played for in the English Premier League, we quickly flash our mind back to the days he had with Arsenal and Portsmouth  but little did we know or remember that before his move to Pompey (Portsmouth) , Kanu had 53 appearances with Westbrom ,scoring only 7 times, his 2nd lowest goal tally for a clubside after Inermilan...oops! We forgot to mention Kanu Also Played for Inter Milan, Amazing! With a joint total of 65 appearances and 8 goals with both Inter Milan and WestBrom, well going by Kanu Nwankwo's standards, we probably deserve to have forgotten he played for those club sides.





5. JAY JAY OKOCHA (FENERBAHCE)


When we hear the name Jay Jay Okocha, we picture his days with the Super Eagles and of course Bolton Wanderers. Jay Jay, unarguably Nigeria's Most skilfull player is one of the few Nigerians to have shared the pitch with football great such as Ronaldinho when at PSG. Unlike Very Many footballers who peak at the middle of their Career, Jay Jay is one of the Few Footballers who announced themselves at the start of their Career. Jay Jay began his senior Career with Borussia Neunkirchen in the German league in 1990,spending two years there before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt. Did somebody just remember the great Oliver Khan? Did you? Well if you didn't, then let me take you back to 1993 in a game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Kalsruher SC. Jay Jay displayed why he is one of the most Skillful player ever in the History of Football, Going past several defenders in the opposition goal box,playing a dummy to the defenders as well as the Goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the back of net. The goal was voted as the best goal scored in 1993 by several Journalist. After his days with Frankfurt, Jay Jay also had another Glorious year with Ligue 1 Giant, PSG were he teamed up with the great Gaucho Ronaldinho. Wait a Minute... Jay Jay also played for Fenerbahce ...really, oh yes! from 1996-1998, scoring 34 goals in 62 appearances winning the prime ministers Cup and Ataturk cup,well thats all we could bring out from the Archive.The super Eagles Legend also played for Qatar SC *yawns*.



DON'T MISS: I prefer the league should be cancelled and Liverpool don't win it - Yobo

6. SAMUEL OKUNOWO (BARCELONA)


Well, not too may people knows Gbenga (That's his middle name)...anyways,Gbenga is one of the few Nigerians to  have featured for the Blaugrana. He represented Barcelona at the Junior category with 21 appearances to his name in 3 years from 1998-2001, no goals nor assists recorded for Okunowo during his playing days with Barcelona. At this point, Even Mr Gbenga might have forgotten he played for Barcelona.

7.NNAMDI ODUAMADI (AC MILAN)


Nnamdi oduamadi is one of the few Nigerians to have scored a hattrick for the Super Eagles in a competitive match, that against Tahiti in FIFA 2013 Confederations cup in a game Nigria eventually won 6-1. If before reading this post you already know Oduamadi, then i strongly believe it was due to his exploit against Tahiti. Prove me wrong (in the comment section). For those of us that still don't know who this young man is,well Nnamdi oduamadi  is one of the very few Nigerians that spent most of their career days in the Italian Serie A, playing for 8 clubs in 5 years. Are you wandering How? well we are too... The Best years of Nnamdi Oduamadi came with AC Milan, where he bagged 43 appearances and 18 goals while playing for the Junior team of the Italian Giants. Anyhow you see it he played for AC Milan, although once for the senior team. Oduamadi has since been without a club which has gotten us wandering what has happened to him? Find out Here.




8. TAYE TAIWO (QPR)


The left footed Nigerian Leftback is well remembered for his days with Marseille in the French Ligue 1 where he had 192 appearances. The "Nigerian Roberto Carlos" also featured for QPR on loan From AC Milan with 15 appearances and 1 goal to his name in the English League. Taye Taiwo still remains one of Nigeria's best Goal scoring Leftback with 41 goals and 49 assists to his name across all clubs he featured for...stilll wandering why he was called the "Nigerian Roberto Carlos", Of course you wouldn't want to be on the way when he unleashes his left footed shot!




9.MUTIU ADEPOJU (REAL MADRID)


Going by the records. Mutiu Adepoju still remains the Only Nigerian who featured for the Super Eagles to have played for Real Madrid, although at the junior level. Adepoju spent three years with Real Madrid Castilla from 1989-1992 with 67 appearances and 27 goals recorded. Hopefully, More Nigerians would get to feature for the Spanish Giants soon.



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10. AHMED MUSA (LEICESTER CITY)


The Pacy Super Eagles Captain currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Musa's Footballing career was well lived in the Russian League While with CSKA Moscow. The AFCON 2013 winner also had a brief spell with Leicester city, announcing himself in a friendly game against FC Barcelona where he bagged a brace against the 5 times UCL winners in a game the Foxes Eventually lost 4-2. Musa time with the Foxes continued to have a decline as the Nigerian forward was reduced to playing with leicester U-23 after failing to replicate the goal scoring prowess he had with CSKA Moscow with the foxes.

11. VICTOR MOSES (LIVERPOOL)


With the current Liverpool team terrorizing Europe, Everyone would be quick to forget that Victor Moses actually played for the reds. Unlike Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Moses actually had playing time with the Reds with 22 appearances and 2 goals across all competitions on loan from Chelsea. Just to crown Victor's career with the Reds, he has been Voted one of the Worst signings in Liverpool's history. Okay, let's act like we didn't see this.

DON'T MISS:Super Eagles Number '9' All through the Years.



12. LEON BALOGUN (WERDER BREMEN)


Majority of Super Eagles followers got to know about Balogun when he was called up to the National team or probably his playing days with Mainz 05 where he had the best period of his career. Balogun's consistency in the National team alongside Williams-Troost Ekong earned them the Tag," Oyibo Wall".  Before his call-up to the National team, Balogun had previously Played for Werder Bremen at both junior and senior Category, little did we know about that! Balogun's career is taking a new twist  ever since signing for EPL side Brighton where he has fallen in the pecking order and no longer a first choice CB as he used to be with Mainz 05. Maybe that's Understandable because before moving to England, Balogun has spent all his years in Germany. A change of League could probably be affecting him, who knows. Balogun currently Plays for Wigan Athletic, on loan from Brighton.




13. OGHENEKARO ETEBO(WARRI WOLVES)


Making a list of Nigerian players without including our Very Own NPFL Might well be incomplete.Oghenekaro Etebo unarguably had the best period of his career with NPFL side Warri Wolves where he was an integral part of the team from 2013-2015....How quick are we to forget that? The Central Midfielder bagged 23 goals from 64 appearances, this impressive stat probably shot him to stardom before signing for Portuguese based club,Feirense in 2016.

14. SUNDAY OLISEH (JUVENTUS)


The former Super Eagles coach played for a couple of teams ranging from Ajax to Borussia Dortmund but one team that probably had skipped the mind of most football fans is that Oliseh actually featured for the 'Old ladies', Juventus for a short spell from 1999-2000 with only 8 appearances to his Name in official games.




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15.KENETH OMERUO (CHELSEA)


Unless you are a die-hard Chelsea fan, you probably would have forgotten that from 2012 - 2019, Keneth Omeruo was actually a Chelsea player who is being sent on loan from one club to the other across Different continents without being given a single chance to play for the blues except when he featured just once for th U-23 side. Omeruo Finally got his Freedom (Yeah... freedom) Last year 2019 when he was transferred permanently to Spanish Laliga side, Leganes after spending a year on-loan with the team. Omeruo currently plays with fellow Nigerian, Chidozie Awaziem in the spanish league.




ADDITIONAL NAMES 

  • JOHN OBI MIKEL (MANCHESTER UNITED): 


    Could have been pronounced the First Nigerian to play for Manchester United when he signed for the Red Devils in 2006. Mikel was pictured wearing a machester United Jersey in a deal believed to have been signed,sealed and....wasn't delivered! Mikel was quickly Hijacked by Manchester United Rivals, Chelsea where he went on to spend 11 solid years.

  • HENRY ONYEKURU (EVERTON): 

    The Nigerian Forward signed for the Toffees in 2017 in a deal worth 7 million and was quickly loaned to Anderlecht  were he sustained a career threatening injury which needed a quick Surgery. Henry never Played for Everton before been sold to Monaco.Onyekuru Currently Plays in the Turkish Premier league with Galatasaray on-loan from Monaco after a poor season in France.





 Do you remember any other? Do let us know in the comment section.