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| Isaac Success |
Nigeria has been home to some of the finest footballers Africa has ever seen, the country’s system of producing footballers dates back to the early 1930’s where random games and amateur leagues were common. Sportskeeda.com takes a look at five of the best current U-23 Nigerian players in the world.
5. Isaac Success
Watford, England
The 20-year-old Nigerian forward was Watford’s record signing from Granada for £12.5m, by new manager Walter Mazzarri earlier this summer. The club signed the youngster to a five-year deal with the club. Mazzarri, an experienced manager in the game, is confident of Success’s ability to cope with the pressures of the English game and perform at the highest level week in week out, and said that it would take some time for Success to adapt and settle into his new surroundings.
The Nigerian had made a single appearance in the Premier League so far this campaign, coming off the bench to score a goal.The young forward has the pace and potential to cause defences all sorts of problems. With Deeney and Odion Ighalo
to learn from, Success’s development as a player is going to improve by leaps and bounds making him a player to look out for in the future.
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| Moses Simon |
4. Moses Simon
KAA Genk, Belgium
An exciting, creative winger, the 21-year-old came through the ranks of the prestigious GBS Academy in Nigeria, the same facility that Leicester City forward, Ahmed Musa went to
develop his career.
Moses a quick, smart, intelligent wingman has impressed his club KAA Genk in the short spell he’s been there and guided them to a Champions League qualification spot in the first year at the club, notching seven goals in his first term at the Belgian side.
Since his move to Belgium in January 2014, the Nigerian produced stunning displays for the club. Simon is a name that several European clubs have taken notice of with Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Spurs vying for the signature of the winger, according to various reports.
An exciting prospect for the future and probably a
knockout artist regarding effectiveness on a game, Moses Simon’s future as a KAA Genk player might be coming to an end with larger goals on the horizon for the young Nigerian.
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| Kumar Sadiq |
3. Umar Sadiq
Bologna, Italy
On loan at Bologna this season, the Nigerian bronze medalist from the Rio Olympics made the permanent switch to Roma after a short loan spell last season where he bagged a couple of goals.
A former member of the Future for Football Academy in Nigeria, the young 19-year- old is an exciting striker with good movement and aerial ability.
He announced himself on the big stage after scoring a fantastic goal for AS Roma when the young Nigerian took out five defenders to plant home an emphatic header past Mattia Perin in goal for Genoa. Sadiq moved to Italy in 2013, playing for a few Serie C and D clubs before being picked up by Roma for a fee of £2m. A pacey, direct striker, Sadiq has joined a massive club with
high expectations as he continues his development with the hope of regular playing time with Bologna and in the future, a break into the Roma first team provided the youngster’s displays impress the Roma coaching team.
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| Kekechi Iheanacho |
2. Kelechi Iheanacho
Manchester City, England The Manchester City and Nigerian forward is one of Nigeria’s most well-known footballers at present, after his meteoric rise last season under Manuel Pellegrini, building a reputation of scoring goals whenever provided the opportunity.
A consistent scorer for City, manager Pep Guardiola has recognised the talent of the Nigerian and has given him ample playing time to build his career in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Iheanacho has become a valuable member of this City squad, and his excellent club form has been rewarded with a call-up for the Nigerian national team. Having made seven
appearances and scored four goals for the national team, Iheanacho is already an important player for the Nigerian team. His goal against AFC Bournemouth this season took his goal tally in the Premier League to 10, joining an exclusive list of players to
have scored 10 Premier League goals before the age of 20.
This list includes world class talents such as Wayne Rooney,
Ryan Giggs, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Owen and Romelu Lukaku.
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| Alex Iwobi. |
1. Alex Iwobi
Arsenal, England
The 20-year-old Arsenal winger is the nephew of former Nigerian and Premier League great Jay Jay Okacha. A tall, strong, and intelligent winger, Iwobi broke through the ranks at Arsenal last season, and manager Arsene Wenger has used the Nigerian winger on more than a couple of occasions in the strong Arsenal side.
Making his break into the first team at the end of last season,
Alex Iwobi has only gone on to improve and build on his confidence. Iwobi received praise from an unlikely source
recently with former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, a fan of the Nigerian youngster. Iwobi represented England in the U-18, U-17, and U-16 teams, but chose to represent his country of birth, Nigeria, when he turned 18, making seven appearances in total so far. A future superstar in the making, Iwobi could go on to emulate his uncle and Nigerian footballing legend, Okocha.
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