The Best Nigerian Footballers

Posted by Paul Michael on August 18th, 2018

The Top Earning Nigerian Football Stars

Nigeria is a country with a passion for football that is legendary and it is perhaps not surprising then that some of the sport’s biggest stars have Nigerian roots.

During the 2018 World Cup, we were given a brief glimpse of the talent and potential of Nigeria’s top players and anyone who enjoys a bit of online betting is sure to want to know more, as being familiar with players is crucial when it comes to placing successful bets. Where a player comes from, his current performance and his future prospects all help to create a full picture of the team and their abilities, and in turn, leads to better predictions.

So, where exactly are Nigeria’s biggest football stars now, who are they playing for, and how much do they earn?

Join African Betting Guide as we take a look at the Super Eagles that are excelling on international soil.

Victor Moses

Born in Nigeria, Victor Moses headed overseas at the age of 16 where he started playing for Crystal Palace. In 2010, Moses made his Premier League debut with Wigan Athletic after completing a £2.5 million transfer. Two years later, he caught the eye of Chelsea and was transferred across in 2012. Despite a promising first season, Moses spent his second season on loan to Liverpool, his third on loan to Stoke City and his fourth at West Ham United. The talented winger started for Chelsea again in 2016, and is currently under contract until 2021, earning a weekly salary of £75,000.

Wilfred Ndidi

At just 21 years old, Wilfred Ndidi is one of Nigeria’s youngest talents. In 2015, the talented youngster headed overseas and made his Belgian Pro League debut with the popular Genk side. It was at this time that he came to the attention of English Champions Leicester. A £17 million transfer deal was signed in 2016, and by 2017, Ndidi made his debut for the club against Everton. Known for his lightning speed and high tackle rate, Ndidi currently earns a weekly salary of £50,000 and is on contract with Leicester until 2022.

Oghenekaro Etebo

A local hero and a key member of the Super Eagles squad, Oghenekaro Etebo is one of the most experienced players in Nigeria. Etebo rose to fame when he joined the Warri Wolves in 2012. It wasn’t until 2016 that Etebo headed overseas where he was picked up by Portuguese LigaPro club Feirense. At the start of 2018, Etebo was loaned out to UD Las Palmas for six months. His talent caught the eye of EFL Champions Stoke City. A €7.2million transfer confirmed his place in the side at a weekly salary of £30,000.

Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa is one of the biggest names in Nigerian football. He is the only Nigerian player to score more than two goals in a FIFA World Cup match and the first to score in two World Cups. After breaking records in the Nigerian Premier League, he headed overseas and played for Dutch club VVV-Venlo. In 2012, Musa signed with Russian side CSKA Moscow where he showed impressive talent. By 2016 Musa was picked up by Leicester City for a club record £16.6 million, but in early 2018, he was loaned out to his old Russian club for the remainder of the season. In August this year he signed with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £14.5 million, and an undisclosed salary amount. His weekly salary before moving to Al-Nassr was £30,000.

Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi was born in Lagos, but his family moved to the UK when he was four. He has been involved with Arsenal since he was in primary school and he signed his first long-term contract with the side in 2015 and has been one of their most reliable players. Iwobi earned a winner’s medal for being part of the FA Cup Squad of 2016/2017 and continues to impress on the field. He recently signed a new contract with Arsenal until 2020, with a weekly salary of £30,000.

These players are the ones to watch if you enjoy betting on any of the teams they play for, and knowing their strengths and weaknesses will go a long way to helping you make solid predictions.