In recent decades, Nigeria has produced exceptional football talent, with many players representing some of the top clubs in Europe. Particularly in the Serie A, Nigerian footballers have excelled and continue to make significant contributions.
Napoli’s striker, Victor Osimhen, played a pivotal role in leading the team to their first Serie A title in 33 years last season, securing his place in the club’s history. Following his outstanding performance at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Osimhen is widely regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian footballers to have played in the Italian league.
Throughout the years, several elite players from the three-time AFCON champions have made their mark in Italy. Here are the top 5 greatest Nigerian footballers in Serie A.
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Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo – Crotone, Salernitana
The striker in question, Simy, has somewhat flown under the radar as he didn’t have the opportunity to play for some of Serie A’s top clubs. However, he has built a commendable career in both Serie A and B, particularly with Crotone. The 31-year-old has notched up an impressive record, scoring 32 goals in Serie A and 35 in Serie B.
Remarkably, 66 of his 113 career goals were netted while wearing the Crotone colors. During the 2020/21 season, Simy found the back of the net 20 times in Serie A, finishing 6th in the scoring charts, trailing behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku. His achievements in that season surpassed records set by Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Nwankwo Kanu – Inter Milan
Nwankwo Kanu has an illustrious football career, marked by significant achievements. He boasts a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup medals, and two African Player of the Year awards, among other honors. Remarkably, he stands as one of the few players to have secured victories in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, and an Olympic Gold Medal.
Kanu holds the distinction of making the third-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, coming off the bench 118 times. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of African football.
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Taribo West – Inter Milan, AC Milan
It’s a significant acknowledgment when a football legend like Thierry Henry, an iconic figure for Arsenal, mentions that Taribo West was his toughest opponent. Henry, who faced formidable defenders like Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol, and Jaap Stam, recognizes West’s prowess on the field. This speaks volumes about the defensive skills and resilience of Taribo West.
After his time with Auxerre, West continued his career in Italy, playing for prestigious clubs like Inter Milan and AC Milan. His notable achievements include winning the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan during the 1997/98 season.
Obafemi Martins – Inter Milan, Reggiana
The striker embarked on his football journey in Italy at the age of 16, initially playing for Reggiana before making a significant move to Inter Milan. During his time with Inter, he achieved notable success, winning the Serie A title in the 2005/06 season, along with two Italian Cups and one Italian Supercup.
Throughout his four seasons with the club, he demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting 49 goals in 136 appearances. After departing Italy, he continued to thrive in the Premier League with Newcastle United. His football journey concluded in 2021, capping off a remarkable career with a total of 183 goals.
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Victor Osimhen – Napoli
The 25-year-old forward made a move to Napoli in 2020 from Lille and has since made a significant impact, scoring an impressive 67 goals in 119 appearances. His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious 2023 African Footballer of the Year award.
In May 2023, he achieved another milestone by becoming the African top scorer in Serie A history, according to BBC reports. Notably, he made history as the first African player to secure the Serie A Golden Boot for the 2022/23 season, scoring a remarkable 26 goals, as recorded by Transfermarkt. Additionally, his goal-scoring contributions played a pivotal role in guiding Napoli to their first league title in 33 years. These remarkable achievements solidify his position as the best Nigerian player to have graced the Serie A.
