The past year has been relatively good for Nigerian football. There are plenty of players that have left a mark in the top leagues in Europe.
They should continue their progress in 2020, so let’s take a look at the best Nigerian players you need to watch in the upcoming year. The focus of this post are younger athletes that could be among the very best in the world.
Alex Iwobi, Everton
Many people forget how young Alex Iwobi still is because the player has been in the spotlight for a while now. In reality, the Everton midfielder is only 23 and is yet to hit the prime years of his career.
After his move to the Toffees, life hasn’t been very kind. Iwobi started well but the team has been struggling under Marco Silva and the poor performance affected his form too.
The Nigerian star didn’t have the chance to impress the new boss Carlo Ancelotti because of an injury but will be hoping to learn from the experienced Italian in 2020.
Everton is looking stronger and Iwobi is known as a hard worker, so he should be an exciting prospect in the upcoming year.
Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City
Another player from the English Premier League makes the list. Wilfred Ndidi has been sensational for Leicester City so far and he’s drawn a lot of comparisons with NgoloKante in the way he’s been playing.
Ndidi can protect the defense expertly, recover the ball high up the pitch and move it fast to his more creative teammates.
The youngster has everything that a modern defensive midfielder needs and is still only 23. If he continues on the same path, we might see him in some of the best clubs in Europe soon.
Even if he stays with Leicester, the Foxes are likely to earn a place in the Champions League. Ndidi will have the chance to face the strongest competition possible in 2020.
Samuel Chukwueze, Villareal
Another Nigerian prospect that seems destined for greatness is Samuel Chukwueze. The prodigy plays for Villareal and has shown insane potential. Many compare him to Arjen Robben, as the winger can be unplayable at times.
All of the top clubs on the continent are closely monitoring his performance and Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing him.
Chukwueze can dribble, assist, and score for fun and is only 20. He already has proven himself in the Spanish La Liga and 2020 could be the year in which he becomes a true superstar.
VictorOsimhen, Lille
Next in line is Victor Osimnhen. The forward was signed by Lille with the tough task of replacing Nicolas Pepe. No one expected the Nigerian youngster to instantly start scoring but that’s exactly what happened.
Osimhen has 10 goals in 18 games in the French Ligue 1 and has been one of the best young players in the competition.
The likes of Newcastle and Liverpool are after his signature and a move to an even stronger side looks imminent. Osimhen will likely finish the season with Lille but the French club won’t be able to resist a big-money move in the summer.
It won’t be a shocker to see Osimhen competing for the highest honors in football very soon. He has a lot to learn but the raw talent is there.
Conclusion
There are plenty of other Nigerian talents out there but the four players above are head and shoulders above the rest. You should certainly watch their development in 2020, as they seem ready to rock the best European leagues.
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