The football season has ended in many destinations across the world and in our usual tradition we rate the performances of the Top 30 Nigerian stars after another eventful campaign overseas.
30: Joe Aribo
Midfielder
Southampton (Premier League)
21 PL Appearances, 2 Goals
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder got off to a flying start when he joined Southampton for over seven Million Pounds from Scottish giants Rangers.
He made 21 appearances in his debut Premier League season, 13 as a starter, and his two goals were against Leeds United (August 2022) and Everton (October 2022).
He also featured for the Super Eagles in five matches in season under review – four 2023 AFCON qualifiers as well as a November 2022 friendly against World Cup-bound Portugal in Lisbon.
29: Jerome Akor
Striker
Lillestrom (Norway)
10 Appearances, 10 Goals
The former Flying Eagles centre-forward started off like a house on fire scoring seven goals in as many games at the start of the Norwegian top league in April. He has now netted 10 goals in the league including a hat-trick against Stabaek.
He has already outdone his eight-goal tally of last season.
It is a form that should attract clubs from the bigger leagues sooner rather than later.
28: Adebayo Adeleye
Goalkeeper
Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
29 Appearances, 13 clean sheets
The 23-year-old shot stopper recorded 10 clean sheets for his Israeli club before he crowned a great season with an official debut for the Super Eagles last month against Sierra Leone in Monrovia.
27: David Okereke
Striker
US Cremonese (Serie A)
33 Appearances, 7 Goals, 2 Assists
Okereke, 25, outscored compatriot and Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers in Serie A after he scored seven goals for their club last season. He still has two years left on his contract at Cremonese and it is left to be seen whether he could head back to the Italian top flight despite his team’s relegation.
26: Wilfred Ndidi
Defensive Midfielder
Leicester City (Premier League)
27 Appearances
This past season was a most forgettable season for the Super Eagles midfielder that ended with relegation for Leicester City from the Premier League. In a campaign blighted by injuries, he made 27 appearances, 19 as a starter. But his season was summarised by the plunge in his own Transfermarkt valuation – from 60 Million Euros to 25 Million Euros.
