The Nigerian team is a quite promising one with several young talented players already working their way to stardom.
The Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has indeed been keen on building the team around the vast options of younger players in recent years. So it’s no surprise that the country boasts of having one of the very best collection of valuable stars in Africa today.
Back in July, we witnessed how 21-year-old Victor Osimhen – a lad who clinched Golden Boot at the developmental U-17 World Cup just five years ago – grew to be one who will break the record of the biggest transfer fee ever paid for an African player, previously held by Nicolas Pepe. Osimhen’s €85m move to Napoli from Lille – which was in fact the biggest deal of the summer transfer window – eclipsed the Ivorian’s €80m transfer to Arsenal from same French club a year ago.
Apart from the lanky Nigerian striker, there are other budding youngsters who could be set for similar jaw-breaking moves to European elite clubs in coming years: Samuel Chukwueze, Emmanuel Dennis, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidera Ejuke…. – just to name a few.
We will here be making use of renowned football data aggregator Transfermarkt to compose a starting XI that will feature Nigeria’s most valuable players from each playing position of a 4-3-3 set-up.
Goalkeeper: Daniel Akpeyi – €0.6 million
The Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper is, by some distance, the oldest player in this XI. At age 34, one wouldn’t have expected that the Heartland FC great to be the most valuable in a position that sees him face competition from promising youngsters like Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye. Nevertheless, his consistency over the past few years in the South African topflight has earned him his place.
Left-back: Zaidu Sanusi – €4 million
The 23-year-old has enjoyed an astronomical rise in his career in recent months – from battling at the Portugal third-tier with SC Mirandela in 2019 to Champions League football with FC Porto this season. He made his Super Eagles debut earlier this month and you can’t just project how higher the brawny left-back will rise in a couple of years.
Center-back: Chidozie Awaziem – €6 million
Awaziem is another Porto player, but he is currently on loan at city rivals Boavista FC. At age 23, he’s already garnered ample experience in La Liga, Ligue 1 among other top leagues by virtue of his several loan spells. His reasonable market value therefore doesn’t come as a surprise.
Center-back: Semi Ajayi – €5 million
Ajayi has also seen his stock rise remarkably in recent years. The West Brom defender has been brilliant at both ends of the pitch and that has helped him earn his good value.
Right-back: Ola Aina – €7 million
Defensive midfielder: Wilfred Ndidi – €45 million
The 23-year-old is unargyably in the elite league of holding midfielders having consistently delivered top performances for Leicester City in the past four years. At the moment, he’s Nigeria’s most valuable player.
Central midfielder: Oghenekaro Etebo – €4 million
Central midfielder: Ramon Azeez – €2.5 million
Left Winger: Alex Iwobi – €25.5 million
Right winger: Samuel Chukwueze – €25 million
The dazzling wideman is one of the country’s best prospects in attack. Putting his colossal release clause in mind, a move out of Villarreal could earn him a big rise in value.
Striker: Victor Osimhen – €40 million
The 21-year-old is a proven goalscorer and one with a really bright future. Of course, for Napoli to pay double his current market value, you know he’s got quite a big prospect.
He’s already dropped convincing all-round performances for the Azzurri so far season and it won’t be a bad idea backing him (at a huge 17 odds) to finish Serie A top scorer using NetBet Nigeria’s football betting platform.
