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The Nigerian Premier League is one of the best leagues in Africa. Despite experiencing dwindling fortunes, it remains to be the leading exporter of players to the European Leagues. Odion Ighalo, a product of little known Osun United Football F.C went on to excel in the English Premier League in his stint with Watford.
The Nigerian Premier League has produced the best players who have been instrumental in the Super Eagles success in the continental football.
Here is a look at the top 5 players who have played in the Nigerian Premier League in the last decade.
#5 Junior Lokosa
Junior Lokosa started his professional football at little known First Bank F.C before sealing a career-defining transfer to Kano Pillars 2018. The lethal striker was on a hot-scoring streak for his new employers as he scored astonishing 14 goals in 15 matches.
He went on to win the Golden Boot with 19 goals despite the Nigerian Professional Football League being suspended after 24 matches due to administrative problems. Kano Pillars were 3rd when the League was suspended. They had a real chance of winning the League based on Junior Lokasa's scoring streak.
Had the Nigerian Professional Football League continued, Junior Lokasa was all set to break the record for most goals in a single season, which is currently held by Mfon Udoh, who scored 23 goals in 2014.
The centre-forward's top form in 2018 earned him his only cap to the Nigerian national team. Despite failing to score for the Super Eagles on his debut, it remains to be the pinnacle of his career.
It's been long since a striker in the calibre of Junior Lukosa graced the Nigerian Professional Football League. His impressive show earned him trials with European and Chinese clubs, before he joined Tunisian side, Esperance.
#4 Ike Ibenegbu
Ike Ibenegbu has enjoyed success in the Nigerian Premier League with Heartland F.C, Warri Wolves and now with Enyimba International F.C.
He made a name for himself while at Heartland F.C where he stayed for six years. The 33-year old attacking midfielder largely contributed to Naze Millionaires back-to-back Federation Cup trophies in 2011 and 2012.
Ike Ibenegbu was considered the most valuable player for Heartland F.C for the six consecutive years that he spent there. The playmaker joined Warri Wolves in 2014 during a period in which they were beefing up their squad ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup.
He was part of the Nigerian squad for the 2010 CAF African Cup of Nations, as he was one of the three home-based players who were called up by the senior side. He has earned 13 caps for the Super Eagles, scoring 6 goals in the process.
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#3 Mfon Udoh
Mfon Udoh is one of the most decorated strikers in the Nigerian Professional Football League. The lethal striker has enjoyed success in the League ever since making his senior debut for the Calabar Rovers in 2011.
He later joined Akwa United where he caught the eyes of Enyimba International F.C after scoring 16 goals in 34 appearances, and joined the latter in 2013. He won the Golden Boot in his second season at Enyimba with a record 23-goals, winning the NPFL player of the year award too.
Mfon Udoh guided Enyimba to the prestigious Nigerian Professional Football League trophy in 2015. After five successful years with the Elephants, he made a sensational return to Akwa United, where he won the Golden Boot again in 2018-2019 season.
He will go down in history as one of the best strikers who has ever graced the Nigerian Premier League. Mfon Udoh has 3 senior appearances for the Nigeran National team.
#2 Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Ikechukwu Ezenwa has been a journeyman in the Nigerian Premier League, featuring for seven different clubs. He started his professional career with Ocean Boys F.C where a series of impressive performances earned him a move to Heartland F.C in 2008.
He joined Sharks F.C in 2011 where his impressive performances in between the sticks earned him a place in the Nigerian squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Since making his debut for the national team, he's been a mainstay of the national side.
Ezenwa was part of the Nigerian squad that finished 3rd in the CAF African Cup of Nations in Egypt earlier this year. He has also featured in Sunshine F.C, Ifeanyi Ubah F.C, Enyimba International F.C and currently is plying his trade for Katsina United F.C.
At 31, Ikechukwu Ezenwa still has some years left before he can hang his boots. This presents an opportunity for him to continue pursuing the NPFL trophy, one that he has never won in his illustrious career.
#1 Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa made a name for himself while playing for Nigerian second-tier side Jos University Teaching Hospital Football Club. He then came to prominence when he joined Nigerian giants Kano Pillars during the 2009-2010 season.
He set the record for the most number of goals scored in a single season in the Nigerian Premier League when he scored 19 goals for the Kano Pillars until 2011 when Jude Aneke of Kaduna United scored 20 goals, a record which was broken later in 2013 when Mfon Udoh scored 23 goals.
Ahmed Musa's brilliance secured him a move away from the Nigerian Premier League after just one season as he joined Dutch side VVV-Venlo in the summer of 2010 when he was just aged 18.
He was unlucky that his 19 goals could not secure Kano Pillars the league title as they finished second behind Enyimba International F.C. His career has been on an upward trajectory ever since and has featured in 91 matches for the national side.
