Nigerian soccer players have been some of the most sought after in world football. Most importantly, Nigeria has long been the face of Africa in world football. For bettors, 1xbet ng gives you a chance to place an outright bet on Ligue 1 top scorer this season.
French Ligue 1: The Budding Ground for African Players
Most football lovers would agree French Ligue 1 is a top poacher of African soccer talents. Ligue 1 is where you find most African players, especially from West Africa. Here is a preview of Nigerian players who have, at some point, played in French Ligue 1
Vincent Enyeama
Vincent Enyeama is a retired Nigerian football player. The 40-year-old goalkeeper hanged his gloves back in the summer of 2020.
Kicking off his football career in the domestic league, the Kaduna-born player plied his trade with Heartland Owerri in 2004. Enyeama made his debut for the national team on 4th May 2002, clocking 101 caps for his country. His move to the French Ligue 1 side to play for Lille came in 2011 following a free transfer from Hapoel Tel Aviv. Victory Onyeama spent two years in Lille, which included a loan spell to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The shot-stopper made 164 appearances for Lille, keeping 65 clean sheets and conceded 156 goals during his time with Le Dogues.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen embodies the new generation of players looking to take Nigeria to the next level in world football. After just 23 appearances for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Osimhen has scored 15 goals, so there is more to come from the 24-year-old forward currently playing for Napoli.
The highlight of Osimhen’s career came in August 2019 when he made a sensational move to Ligue 1 side, Lille, for a fee of 22.4 million euros. While he lasted only a season in France, Victor Osimhen scored 18 goals and provided 6 assists in 38 appearances for the French club. He currently plays for Napoli following a record-breaking transfer fee of 75 million euros. Osimhen who could have played in the Premier League is tipped to be the Serie A top scorer in the 2022/23 season.
Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha had no outstanding weakness as a player. Known for his dribbling skills and showboating that left many in awe, Okocha’s football career started in 1990 in Germany where he played for Borussia Neunkirchen before a free transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt and Fenerbahce.
The highlight of Okocha’s career was in the summer of 1996 when Ligue 1 giants, PSG, acquired his services for a fee of 12.4 million euros from Fenerbahce. Jay-Jay Okocha made 119 appearances for PSG where he scored 20 goals and provided 9 assists before moving to Bolton Wanderers in England. The 49-year-old scored 15 goals for his country in 75 appearances.
John Utaka
John Utaka is a 41-year-old retired Nigeria forward. He kicked off his career with Enugu Rangers International in the domestic league but he did not get a chance to play for Nigeria’s national team. The Super Eagles currently lead Group A in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
In France, Utaka played for three teams: Lens, Rennes and Montpellier, arguably some of the most established teams in the top flight.
After a free transfer to RC Lens in the summer of 2002, Utaka made 124 appearances during which he scored 32 goals and provided 6 assists. He later moved to Rennes in July 2005 for a fee of 5 million Euros. At Rennes, Utaka had 75 appearances, scored 28 goals and provided 9 assists.
Utaka’s last football club in France was Montpellier following a January move in 2011. He made 86 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists before exiting the French top flight for Super Lig in Turkey where he played for Sivasspor.
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