Starting with the 2022/23 football season, we recognize the best footballers in Nigeria in 2023. Players who have had the most influence on the performances of their team. They have helped their teams by contributing to goals and stacking up appearances.
A lot of Nigerian players have been in red-hot form for their clubs this season, banging in the goals and contributing with assists. As a result, Nigerian players are now featuring for the top teams in Europe due to their form, and they have now been able to showcase how good they are for the world to see.
From the English Premier League, Laliga, Serie A, French League 1, German Bundesliga, and all the Turkish Super League and the Belgium Pro League. These players have been the best of many Nigerian players this season. So, sit back, relax and enjoy going through the list of the best footballer in Nigeria in 2023.
Best Footballer in Nigeria in 2023
1. VICTOR OSIMHEN
If we only had to select one player as the best of them all, the spot would still, without a doubt, go to Victor Osimhen. Osimhen was crowned at the end of the 2021/22 season as the young player of the year in Serie A, despite missing over two months of football due to injury.
Victor Osimhen still ended the season as the top goal scorer for the men from Naples. He bagged 18 goals and registered six assists in just 32 appearances for Napoli in the 2021/22 season to cement his name as the club’s favourite.
Such supremacy has continued this season. In spite of missing the early parts of this season, Osimhen has powered his way to the top of the Serie A top goal-scorer chat with 12 goals from 14 games. He has continued to wreak havoc on the opposition defence in the league alongside his compatriot from Georgia.
With his height, physical prowess, superb burst of speed, and a determination that is second to none, Victor Osimhen is in the running to become the top Scorer in Serie A this season. He is also in the running to secure the MVP for the season, and who knows he might crown it all by lifting the scudetto right at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
SEE: Ten Best Football Stadiums in the World
2. TEREM MOFFI
Moffi had a good 2021/22 season in Ligue 1. He scored a total of eight goals and also chipped in with four assists for Lorient. The striker finished the season as the top scorer for the club and almost helped his club qualify for Europe.
However, that was just a glimpse of what was to come this season. The young striker has already surpassed his tally for last season already, just halfway through this season, with 12 league goals.
Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more league goals than the Nigerian striker so far in the French league 1. He might secure a move to a bigger club at the end of the season if he keeps up his excellent form.
3. ALEX IWOBI
In a season that has been all about survival and fighting for their lives, Alex Iwobi has been a shining light for Everton this season. After having a very poor season in the 2021/22 season, there were question marks about his ability and if he was going through the exit door.
The man from Mersey’s side has been a totally different player from the previous season. He has come out this season with total confidence and a burst of energy and has been absolutely pivotal to the survival of Everton in the premier league this season.
Alex Iwobi has looked almost unplayable sometimes this season in the league with his skills, vision, and, most importantly, his off-the-ball work rate. Iwobi’s form has been a reward for the faith shown in him by his manager Frank Lampard.
RELATED: Richest Footballers in the World
4. ADEMOLA LOOKMAN
Lookman’s loan spell at Leicester City in the 2021/22 season went well. Definitely sufficient for him to permanently move to the king power stadium last summer or to any other premier league club.
Leicester brought in the 24-year-old to be a good backup for the attack line. But he ended up making 41 appearances in all competitions, stacking up eight goals and providing five assists.
However, he made a surprise move to Italy to join Atalanta, and need I say more? He has been absolutely phenomenal for the men from Bergamo this season. Lookman has already surpassed his best-ever tally in a season just halfway through this season. He’s notched up 9 goals already, and he is in hot pursuit of his countryman Osimhen for the golden boot.
5. PAUL ONUACHU
After his golden boot winning season, with 35 goals in the 2020/21 season, only Deniz Undav (26) and Michael Frey (24) found the back of the net more times than Paul Onuachu in the Belgium Pro League last season.
The 28-year-old lofty striker was productive for his side KRC Genk, finding the back of the net 21 times in 35 appearances for his club. With these, in what was an underwhelming season for his club, he managed to help them finish 8th to qualify for Europe this season.
Despite an injury-plagued season the last time out, and also missing the beginning phase of this season with injuries. Onuachu has powered his way to the second spot on the goal-scoring chat with 13 league goals in the Belgium pro league this season. He is tied on the same number as Gonzalez, who occupies the number one spot.
SEE: Naomi Osaka announces pregnancy
6. SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE
Chukwueze had a bad start to last season with injuries. This made sure he could only start 32% of Villarreal’s matches. He featured 38 times across all competitions, notching up seven goals and contributing three assists.
Possibly his crowning moment last season was his tie-clinching goal at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the champions league. His goal sealed their progression to the semi-final, where they would eventually go out to Liverpool.
As stated, Chukwueze has not been able to feature for parts of this season as, well. But since his return, he has been inspired for Villareal, beating his total tally of last season already. With seven goals and seven assists this season, the tricky winger has made it to the list of the best footballer in Nigeria in 2023.
SEE:10 Best Private Hospitals in Lagos
7. OLISA NDAH
Having secured a move from NPFL side Akwa United to the South African giants Orlando Pirates in August 2021. This was after winning the NPFL for Akwa United, and he was one of the season’s best players.
The 24-year-old centre-back quickly became a fan favourite for the club. He was quick to become a mainstay in the Buccaneers’ defence. He helped them to 9 clean sheets in the league and came out with four in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The last of his 31 appearances last season came when he featured in the starting lineup for Orlando Pirates in the CAF Confederation cup final against RS Berkane. The final was played at his former home in Uyo.
Despite being an inconsistent season for the Buccaneers, he has continued his terrific form for the club with his performances. He hopes to help the club to another continental spot next season. The defender is also attracting interest from Europe with his display, and who knows, he might secure a move.
SEE: Who Is the Best Nigerian President from 1960 Till Date?
8. RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA
Raphael Onyedika had a breakthrough season in the Danish league. He was one of the best Nigerian midfielders last season and also one of the best Nigerian players last season. Raphael will be one of the best footballers in Nigeria in 2023.
The 21-year-old defensive midfield was an ever-present in the middle for Danish giants FC Midtjylland. This was his first senior season, and he played a total of 48 matches, scoring 4 goals and registering 3 assists across all competitions.
He sealed it by helping his side to a Cup win. And he also won the player of the month one time. These performances earned him a move to Belgian giants Club Brugge, and he has been an ever-present in their midfield since joining. He helped his side to the top of a difficult champions league group going the first four games without conceding.
READ: President Muhammadu Buhari Biography: Achievements, Net worth, Salary, and More
9. SADIQ UMAR
Umar Sadiq was the mastermind behind the promotion charge of UD Almeria. With his exploits, he was presented with a golden shovel to crown his efforts for his club.
The lanky striker was a constant menace to defences in the Spanish second division last season. He proved that asides from racking up goals, he is also capable of creating them for his team. Sadiq scored 18 goals and recorded 12 assists for his team in 36 games. Of the 36 matches, he started in 34, completing 81% of the minutes.
The impressive thing about his goals is that not one of his 18 goals was from the penalty spot. At the end of the day, his exploits made sure Almeria would be playing in Spanish LALIGA this season before securing a move to Real Sociedad.
He carried his form to his new club by scoring on his debut but had an injury in the following match that would keep him out for the majority of this season. Despite the injury, he is still one of the best footballers in Nigeria in 2023.
RELATED: Top Ten Richest Men in Nigeria
FAQs for Best Footballers in Nigeria in 2023
Best player! Undoubtedly, Victor Osimhen. Despite facing intermittent criticism from Luciano Spalletti and having his commitment to Nigeria questioned, the Napoli marksman scored 18 Serie A goals and five for the Super Eagles in 2022.
Rashidi Yekini
Rashidi Yekini is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Nigerian national football team, with 37 goals. He is the only player to have scored more than 30 goals for the Super Eagles. Yekini was part of the Nigerian national team from 1984 to 1998.
According to FIFA’s monthly rankings, the Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, will finish in 2022 as Africa’s fifth-best and 35th in the world.
The younger generation of Nigerians does not really know that just like President Goodluck Jonathan wore no shoes as a schoolboy, the first Nigerian professional footballer, Titus Okere, showed up for trials at Swindon, in 1952, without cleats.
The FIFA Men’s World Ranking is a ranking system for men’s national teams in association football, led by Brazil as of 2022.
This concludes the list of the best footballers in Nigeria in 2023. We hope you have enjoyed going through the article, as these players have been the outstanding players Nigeria has at the moment.
