Soccer is among the hottest sports activities in Nigeria and has produced numerous stars who began from scratch and have become family names. OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL appears to be like at among the soccer stars who defied all odds to realize greatness
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen at present performs as a striker for Serie A membership Napoli in Italy, in addition to the Nigerian nationwide crew.
Born on December 29, 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria, Osimhen began taking part in soccer at a younger age and joined the Final Strikers Academy in Nigeria earlier than shifting to Wolfsburg in Germany.
Osimhen rose from humble beginnings to grow to be one of the promising younger skills on this planet of soccer. His story is certainly one of perseverance, onerous work and dedication within the face of adversity.
He grew up in a big household with 5 siblings, who had been raised by his mom after his father died when he was solely six years outdated. To outlive along with his household, the attacker distributed sachets of water, popularly often called 'pure water', on the streets. Regardless of the challenges he confronted rising up within the slum, Osimhen confirmed an curiosity in soccer early on and by no means gave up on his desires.
As an adolescent, Osimhen joined the Final Strikers Academy in Lagos, a soccer academy that has produced a number of notable Nigerian gamers, together with Odion Ighalo and Isaac Success. It was there that Osimhen's expertise started to shine and he quickly attracted the eye of scouts from European golf equipment.
In 2015, Osimhen was invited to hitch the Golden Eaglets, the Nigerian under-17 crew. He performed a key position of their profitable marketing campaign on the 2015 U-17 World Cup, scoring 10 targets and successful the match title. golden boot worth. His performances attracted the eye of a number of European golf equipment and in January 2016 he signed for Wolfsburg in Germany.
Shortly after arriving in Wolfsburg, he tore his meniscus and underwent three operations, and solely 4 months later did he play his first recreation with the crew.
Talking concerning the expertise in an interview with Sports activities 1Osimhen mentioned: “It was very powerful after I first got here to Europe. It was lonely.
“I got here again from coaching and nobody was residence. It wasn't straightforward contemplating I wasn't taking part in as a result of accidents that had been consistently bothering me.”
Regardless of dealing with a number of challenges through the years, Osimhen has continued to work onerous and push himself to be the perfect participant he may be. Identified for his velocity, ability and ending skill, he has already confirmed himself as certainly one of Nigeria's most useful gamers.
In July 2020, Osimhen signed for Napoli in Italy for a reported switch charge of €70 million.
Osimhen rose to a different degree when he helped Nigeria win the U-17 World Cup in 2015. He was additionally a part of the Nigerian crew that gained the bronze medal on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Osimhen made his debut for the senior nationwide crew in 2017 and has since grow to be a returning member of the crew.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho is a footballer who at present performs as a striker for Leicester Metropolis in England, in addition to the Nigerian nationwide crew.
He began taking part in soccer at a younger age and joined Taye Academy in Nigeria earlier than shifting to Manchester Metropolis in England in 2014.
The participant has made a reputation for himself as a gifted striker with a knack for scoring targets. He has overcome numerous challenges to grow to be one of the thrilling younger gamers in world soccer, and his story is certainly one of perseverance, onerous work and dedication.
The footballer was born in Imo State in October 1996 and grew up in a household of six. He misplaced his mom, Mercy, when he was simply 16 years outdated.
Just a few months after her dying Iheanacho was talked about Participant of the match when Nigeria gained the U-17 World Cup in 2013. His wonderful efficiency caught the eye of Manchester Metropolis.
Talking about his expertise on Manchester Metropolis's web site, he mentioned: “That yr I used to be invited to play for the U-17 nationwide crew and it was a giant alternative for me.”
“I obtained a message from residence that my mom was ailing. I didn't know the way unhealthy it was; I simply knew she was sick. I couldn't go residence to see her. This was my probability to go for my dream. The subsequent information I received from residence a number of weeks later was that my mom had died.
I discover it very tough to speak about this.”
Iheanacho's success on the sector has been hard-won. He has confronted quite a few challenges all through his profession, together with accidents and competitors for locations. In 2018, he was neglected of Nigeria's World Cup squad, a choice he described because the low level of his profession.
Regardless of these setbacks, Iheanacho by no means gave up on his dream of turning into a high footballer. He’s identified for his skill to create possibilities for his teammates, in addition to his creativity and agility on the sector.
Off the sector, Iheanacho is thought for his humility and dedication to his household and group. He has spoken brazenly concerning the significance of schooling and has arrange a basis to assist underprivileged youngsters in Nigeria.
Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chukwueze at present performs for Italian soccer membership AC Milan; in addition to the Nigerian nationwide crew, Tremendous Eagles.
He began taking part in soccer at a younger age and joined the Diamond Soccer Academy in Nigeria the place he honed his abilities. He later signed for Villarreal CF in 2018, from the place he moved to AC Milan in July 2023 for a charge of over €20 million.
Chukwueze's rise to fame started when he performed as a member of the Nigeria U-17 crew, which gained the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was one of many standout gamers of the match and was named the third finest participant of the match. competitors. He made his debut for the nationwide crew in 2018 and has been a daily member of the squad ever since.
In 2019, he gained the 2018 of the Nigerian Soccer Federation Younger Participant of the 12 months worth. That very same yr, the footballer gained the bronze medal on the Africa Cup of Nations with the Tremendous Eagles.
Born on Could 22, 1999 in Umuahia, Abia State, Chukwueze grew up in a Christian household and began taking part in soccer when he was simply eight years outdated.
Rising up, he admired soccer legend Augustine Okocha, aka Jay Jay; and a former Dutch footballer, Arjen Robben.
He had his secondary schooling at Authorities Faculty and Evangel Secondary College, each in Abia State. Though his dad and mom had been initially towards his profession as a footballer as a result of they feared it will hinder his schooling, Chukwueze didn’t let that cease him from pursuing his desires. He was so decided that his dad and mom lastly gave in. Though he’s a left-handed participant, he’s a improbable dribbler and may play as an inverted winger.
Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa at present performs as a ahead for the membership Sivasspor in Turkey, in addition to for the Nigerian nationwide crew. He’s essentially the most capped Tremendous Eagles participant of all time, with 107 caps.
Like others on this listing, he began taking part in soccer at a younger age and joined the GBS Soccer Academy in Nigeria, earlier than shifting to VVV-Venlo within the Netherlands.
Musa's rise to fame started when he helped Nigeria win the African Youth Championship in 2011. He was additionally a part of the Nigerian crew that gained the U-17 World Cup in 2009, and the Nigerian crew that gained the bronze medal on the U-17 World Cup. 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Musa made his senior debut for the Nigerian nationwide crew in 2010 and has since grow to be a daily member of the squad, successful the AFCON in 2013.
He was born on October 14, 1992 in Jos, Plateau State and comes from a multi-faith household. His mom is a Christian from Edo State and his father is from Borno State.
Musa attended Saint Peace Major College and Ihya'ul Islamic Secondary College earlier than becoming a member of GBS Soccer Academy the place he began his soccer profession. He’s identified for his tempo and spectacular work charge, taking part in primarily as a left winger. Musa broke into the Nigerian skilled soccer league, taking part in for Kano Pillars throughout the 2009/10 season. He performed for a number of golf equipment in Europe, together with Leicester Metropolis within the English Premier League.
Along with his soccer profession, Musa has additionally been within the information in his private life. In April 2017, he was concerned in a dispute along with his estranged spouse Jamila, which led to police being referred to as to his residence. The couple later divorced as a result of 'irreconcilable variations'. He later married Juliet Ejue in Abuja.
Wilfred endurance
Of Fairly a superb document, Wilfred Ndidi is certainly one of Nigeria's finest midfielders. He at present performs as a defensive midfielder for Leicester Metropolis in England and the Nigerian nationwide crew. Like a lot of his colleagues, Ndidi began taking part in soccer at a younger age and joined the Nath Boys Academy in Nigeria earlier than shifting to Genk in Belgium.
Ndidi's rise to fame started when he helped Genk win the Belgian Professional League in 2016. Ndidi made his senior debut for the Nigerian nationwide crew in 2015 towards the Democratic Republic of Congo in a pleasant match in Belgium. He has performed in a number of worldwide tournaments together with the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 African Cup of Nations. Ndidi was additionally included in Nigeria's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations however needed to withdraw as a result of damage.
Ndidi grew up in Ikeja Army Cantonment, Lagos, the place he found his love for soccer. Nevertheless, his father, a retired military officer, prioritized self-discipline and schooling over soccer. Ndidi performed in lots of inter and intra-school competitions earlier than becoming a member of Nath Boys Academy which led him to skilled soccer.
In an earlier interview with the BBC World Service, Ndidi revealed that he usually took the chance to play soccer when his father went to work. He mentioned: “Each time my dad went to work, I went to play soccer.”
In Could 2019, Ndidi married his long-time girlfriend in Abuja. That very same yr he began learning for a level in Enterprise and Administration at De Montfort College, United Kingdom.
Kenneth Omeruo
Kenneth Omeruo is a footballer who performs for Turkish aspect Kasimpasa and the Nigerian nationwide crew.
He began his soccer profession with JUTH FC in Jos, Plateau State, earlier than shifting to Customary Liège in Belgium.
Omeruo's rise to fame started when he helped the Nigerian U-20 crew win the African Youth Championship in 2011. He was additionally a part of the Nigerian crew that completed second within the 2009 U-17 World Cup.
He made his debut for the nationwide crew in 2013 and has since grow to be a mainstay within the Eagles' protection.
In January 2012, Chelsea signed him as a promising teenage defender, however for the following seven years he was loaned out and by no means performed for the primary crew. Regardless of this, Omeruo has grow to be an integral participant for the Nigerian nationwide crew and has represented the nation at a number of worldwide tournaments.
Omeruo was born on October 17, 1993 in Abia State and has two youthful siblings: a brother, Fortunate; and a sister, Chisom. His brother Fortunate adopted in his footsteps as a footballer and at present performs as a striker for the Belgian membership KSC Metropolis Pirates.
The footballer is married to Chioma Nnamani they usually have two youngsters. Though Omeruo, just like the others on this listing, didn’t have a straightforward time discovering his method in his profession, his dad and mom had been very useful and supportive.
Omeruo has additionally supplied help to younger Nigerian footballers, reminiscent of Obi Agu, by serving to them obtain their desires by Kenneth Omeruo's Academy.
