- Jay-Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder who currently plays in the Qatar league for Qatar SC, a move that was completed in July 2006.
- Wilson Oruma
Wilson Oruma is a football midfielder from Nigeria. He became the tournament top goalscorer when Nigeria won the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championships. Some people feel he has "never really blossomed" beyond that level — nonetheless, he has played international matches for Nigeria, and was part of the team that participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He also helped win the Olympic gold medal in 1996, a year after he debuted for Nigeria.
- James Obiorah
James Chibuzor Obiorah, born August 24, 1978 in Jos, Nigeria is a Nigerian midfielder/striker without a club after his contract with French Ligue 2 side Niort was terminated. His previous clubs include RSC Anderlecht, Grasshopper Zurich, Cádiz CF, Grazer AK and Lokomotiv Moscow and he was also loaned to Niort from Lokomotiv Moscow in the 2004/2005 season, scoring 4 goals in 12 games.
- Ade Akinbiyi
Adeola (Ade) Peter Oluwatoyin Akinbiyi (born October 10, 1974 in Hackney, London) is an England born Nigerian footballer. He is a striker for Burnley in the Championship.
- Taribo West
Taribo West (born March 26, 1974 in Ajegunle, Lagos) is a Nigerian football defender. He currently plays for Julius Berger FC in Nigeria. West has had a successful career, playing for AJ Auxerre, Inter Milan, A.C. Milan, Derby County, FC Kaiserslautern, FK Partizan, Al-Arabi and Plymouth Argyle. He has been capped 41 times by the Nigerian national team and played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
- Vincent Enyeama
Vincent Enyeama (born August 29, 1982) is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. Since 2002, he is playing for the national team of Nigeria and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Enyeama was selected for the 2002 World Cup as a cover for Ike Shorunmu. He only played one match in that tournament, but has since taken over the spot after Shorunmu's international retirement. Since then he has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team, playing in the 2004 and 2006.
- Julius Aghahowa
Julius Aghahowa (born February 12, 1982 in Benin City, Nigeria) is a football striker from Nigeria who currently plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premiership, after playing over six years for the Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk. He has played 32 matches and scored 14 goals for the Nigerian national team, including their only goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He became Nigeria's top goalscorer at the 2002 African Nations Cup. He also played at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Nwankwo Kanu
Nwankwo Kanu (born August 1, 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. He is the most highly-decorated African footballer in footballing history, with over 10 awards to boast of, including a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal and two African Player of the Year awards.
- Victor Ikpeba
Victor Nosa Ikpeba is a football striker from Nigeria. He has played thirty international matches and scored three goals for Nigeria, and played at the Football World Cups in 1994 and 1998. He also helped win the 1994 African Nations Cup and the Olympic gold medal in 1996. Ikpeba was discovered by Belgian club RFC Liégeois during the 1989 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and moved to play in Belgium together with teammate Sunday Oliseh.
- Efe Sodje
Efetobore "Efe" Sodje (born October 5, 1972 in Greenwich) is a footballer who is currently playing for Gillingham. He is a central defender. He has featured at international level for Nigeria and was in the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2002 World Cup. Sodje scored on his Football League debut, which was also Macclesfield Town's first game in the League. He had signed for the Silkmen from Stevenage Borough, …
- John Utaka
John Utaka (born January 8, 1982) is a Nigerian football player. He has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, then spending a season playing for Al Sadd of Qatar, before joining Racing Lens in France. He now plays for Portsmouth in England. He is able to play in all attacking positions, but prefers to lurk behind the forward as a shadow striker.
- Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (born October 28, 1984 in Lagos, Nigeria is a Nigerian football player who plays as a striker for the Nigeria national team, and for the English club Newcastle United.
- Celestine Babayaro
Celestine Babayaro (born August 29, 1978 in Kaduna, Nigeria) is a footballer who plays left-back and is currently contracted to Newcastle United of the English Premiership. Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side, Plateau United before moving to Belgium and Brussels outfit, Anderlecht in 1994 and made a name for himself through his performances for Nigeria in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where the African nation won the golden medal.
- Joseph Yobo
Joseph Ikpo Yobo is a Nigerian football player currently with Everton F.C. He joined Everton on loan from Olympique Marseille in July 2002, with a £1M fee required to register the player, becoming the first signing of new manager David Moyes. An option to make the move permanent was taken up and completed in 2003 after a dispute between Yobo and Marseille was settled, with Everton agreeing a fixed additional fee of £4M.
- Samson Siasia
Samson Siasia (born August 14, 1967 in Lagos) is a former football striker from Nigeria. He played 46 international matches for Nigeria, in which he scored thirteen goals, and was part of the team that participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and won the 1994 African Nations Cup. He participated in the National Team over a period of 11 years and was recognized in Nigeria as the third leading scorer for the National Team.
- Sunday Oliseh
Sunday Oliseh (born April 14, 1974 in Abavo, Delta State) is a former Nigerian footballer. He played 40 international matches and scored 2 goals for Nigeria, and played at the Football World Cups of 1994 and 1998. Oliseh also participated in the Olympic gold medal winning team of 1996. A midfielder, Oliseh played for well known clubs such as Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.
- Benedict Akwuegbu
Benedict Akwuegbu is a Nigerian football player. He played for a few clubs, including RC Harelbeke (Belgium), Grazer AK (Austria), Shenyang Haishi and Changsha Ginde (China), FC Kärnten (Austria), FC Wacker Tirol (Austria) and Sportfreunde Siegen in Germany. He now plays for Panserraikos in Greece. He plays for Nigeria national football team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Recently (and unsuccessfully) on trial with Leeds United
- Taye Ismaila Taiwo
Taye Ismaila Taïwo is a Nigerian football (soccer) defender who currently plays for Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1). He is know for his ability to shoot with his left foot. Left-back Taiwo was part of the Nigerian team during the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He scored two decisive goals during the competition which enabled Nigeria to reach the final (lost 2-1 against Argentina).
- Tosin Dosunmu
Tosin Dosunmu (July 15, 1980) is a Nigerian footballer who is contracted to AS Nancy-Lorraine. Before he joined Nancy, Dosunmu played for KV Mechelen, K.V.C. Westerlo, Austria Wien and Germinal Beerschot. In the season 2005-2006 he played for Germinal Beerschot and he became top scorer in the Jupiler League. He has also played for the Nigeria national football team. He currently plays with SV Zulte Waregem.
- Peter Ijeh
Peter Ijeh is a Nigerian football striker currently playing for Viking F.K. in the Norwegian Premier League. After playing for clubs in Nigeria, he joined Swedish club Malmö FF in 2001. He was the top scorer in Allsvenskan in 2002 with 24 goals. In 2004, he transferred to IFK Göteborg as the club's big name signing for its 100th anniversary. He was, however, unable to repeat his earlier success and was generally considered a disappointment.
- Daniel Amokachi
Daniel Owefin Amokachi nicknamed "The black bull" (born December 30, 1972 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria. He played many international matches for Nigeria, and was part of the team that participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1994 African Nations Cup. He also helped win the Olympic gold medal in 1996. While playing for Ranchers Bees, Amokachi was discovered by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, …
- Joseph Enakarhire
Joseph Enakarhire is a football defender from Nigeria. His first major tournament for the Nigeria national football team was the 2004 African Nations Cup. In 2004 he moved from Standard Liège to Sporting Lisbon and helped them reach the UEFA Cup final. After playing only one season in Lisbon, Enakarhire was sold to Russian big-spending club Dynamo Moscow. In August 2006 he moved to French Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux.
- Haruna Babangida
Haruna Babangida (born 1 October 1982 in Kaduna) is a Nigerian footballer who most recently played for the Greek championship Alpha Ethniki club Olympiacos. Babangida is a hard working, quick right wing who can also play on the left side. Greek media calls him "pithamogonatos", which means "short knees", because of his height (he's very short). He is the younger brother of Tijani Babangida and Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida is the eighth of ten brothers.
- Finidi George
Finidi George (born April 15, 1971 in Port Harcourt) is a Nigerian former footballer. He played at the Football World Cups in 1994 and 1998. Finidi made his international debut in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso in 1991. He provided three assists for Rashidi Yekini and scored one goal in a match the Nigerians won 7-1. A midfielder, Finidi came to Europe in 1993 to play for Ajax. He also played in England and Spain.
- Mutiu Adepoju
Mutiu Adepoju (born December 22, 1970 in Ibadan) is a Nigerian former football midfielder who played for several European clubs and mostly in Spain in the 1990s and 2000s and was a member of the Nigeria national team in three World Cups. He left Nigeria in 1989 to join Castilla CF, Real Madrid's reserve team. He was transferred to first division club Racing Santander, where he was a regular. He eventually left Santander for Real Sociedad, a larger club, …
- Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (born November 22 1982 in Benin City, Nigeria), often known as Yakubu, is a Nigerian football player, who currently plays for Middlesbrough.
- Rashidi Yekini
Rashidi Yekini (born October 23, 1964 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria. Scoring 37 goals for Nigeria, he is the national record top goalscorer. Yekini was part of the team that participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup (where he scored Nigeria's first ever goal in a World Cup) and 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1994 African Nations Cup, a tournament in which he became top goalscorer. Yekini also played Olympic football, in Seoul 1988.
- Victor Agali
Victor Okechukwu Agali (born December 29, 1978 in Okpanam) is a football striker from Nigeria. He has played for Nigeria at a number of occasions, including the 2000 Summer Olympics. He was surprisingly omitted from the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. At the age of 17, Agali was the top goalscorer in the Nigerian second division, and was picked up by French club Olympique Marseille. Finding it hard to establish a first team place, he played for Toulon, where he performed well.
- Femi Opabunmi
Femi Opabunmi is a Nigerian football player. He played for a few clubs, including Shooting Stars FC, Grasshoppers Zürich (Switzerland) and Chamois Niortais in France. He plays for Nigeria national football team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Christian Chukwu
Christian Chukwu is a Nigerian football coach and former defender. As a player, he became the captain of Enugu Rangers football club and the Nigeria national team in the late 1970s. He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament. Chukwu started his coaching career in Lebanon in the mid 1990s, before being appointed coach of the Kenya national team in 1998.
- Stephen Makinwa
Stephen Ayodele Makinwa (born 26 July 1983 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian football striker, who currently plays for Italian Serie A side Lazio and Nigeria. Discovered in 2000 by Reggiana while playing for Nigerian local side Football Club Ebedei, Makinwa started his Italian football experience moving on loan to Serie D team Conegliano. In 2001 he moved to Serie B team Como squad, as Como bought 50% of the rights to the player, however, …
- Austin Ejide
Austin Ejide (born 8 April, 1984 in Onitsha, Nigeria) is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. He played for a few clubs, including Gabros International and SC Bastia in Corsica, which is competing in the French Football League (LFP). He plays for Nigeria national football team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He is very famous for being highly rated in FIFA 07 game in which he is one of the best goalkeepers.
- Enoch Showunmi
Enoch Showunmi (born April 21, 1982, in Kilburn, London) is a Nigerian International footballer currently playing for Bristol City F.C. He previously played for Luton Town F.C. Showunmi entered the professional ranks relatively late, signing for his first professional club Luton Town at the age of 21 from non-League team Willesden Constantine, having first completed a Business degree at London South Bank University. A tall and bustling striker who also possesses pace, …
- Danny Shittu
Daniel Olusola "Danny" Shittu is a Nigerian footballer, currently playing for English Premier League side Watford after signing from Queens Park Rangers for £1.6 million on 6 August 2006. After two years at Charlton Athletic mainly spent on loan (first at Blackpool then QPR), QPR acquired his services permanently for £350,000. He was bought by a fan (Alex Winton) who also paid Shittu's wages during his first season at QPR.
- George Datoru
George Datoru (born May 25, 1977) is a Nigerian football striker currently playing for Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Having spent many years playing in Austria, he holds an Austrian passport as well. After winning the Nigerian championship with Sharks F.C., Datoru signed with an Austrian club.
- Stephen Keshi
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (born January 31, 1961 in Lagos) is a former football midfielder from Nigeria.
- Peter Rufai
Peter Rufai (born August 24, 1963 in Lagos) is a former football goalkeeper from Nigeria. He played 65 international matches and scored 1 goal for Nigeria, and played at the Football World Cups in 1994 and 1998 as well as winning the 1994 African Nations Cup. Rufai became the first Nigerian goalkeeper to play abroad as he signed for Beninese team Dragon FC in 1986. He eventually moved to Europe, his most successful spell being for Portuguese team SC Farense.
- Pius Ikedia
Pius Nelson Ikedia is a football winger from Nigeria. He has played fifteen international matches and scored one goal for Nigeria, for whom he debuted in 1997. Ikedia played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 Summer Olympics. While still a teenager, Ikedia scored many goals along with Julius Aghahowa at Nigerian club Bendel Insurance. He played professional football for one year in Côte d'Ivoire before he was discovered by Dutch giants Ajax.
- Kalu Uche
Kalu Uche is a Nigerian football (soccer) midfielder who plays for UD Almería of Segunda División. He is the older brother of Ikechukwu Uche. His career began in Nigeria with Enyimba FC and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. He joined Spanish team RCD Espanyol but did not play any senior games. He joined the Polish team Wisła Kraków in 2001 and played there until 2006, except for the 2004-05 season when he played for Girondins de Bordeaux.
- Augustine Eguavoen
Augustine Eguavoen (born August 19, 1965 in Benin City, Nigeria) is the former caretaker coach of the Nigerian national football team (the Super Eagles).