Nigeria is blessed with abundance of football talents – a trend which is certainly going to continue for many generations.
A survey by CIES Football Observatory in 2015, ranked the country as the fifth highest exporter of football talents in the world and first on the continent. What this means is that an average of one in every three Nigerian child wants to become a footballer.
Meanwhile, some of the country’s top stars have proven that there’s more to their life’s than just the round leather game.
Here we highlight six Nigerian footballers and what they would have probably excelled at aside football.
- Vincent Enyeama: Activism
Nigeria’s ex-skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was known throughout his international career for always fighting for the interest of his colleagues. The 34-year-old might have been another Martin Luther King if he had failed his soccer screenings.
- John Mikel Obi: Administration
Super Eagles skipper, John Obi Mikel, would have probably done a better job in administration than some of the country’s leaders. He displayed his extraordinary leadership skills at the just concluded Rio Olympics where he bailed the Dream Team in time of financial crisis.
- Ahmed Musa: Sprint
Ahmed Musa’s blistering pace is one which would have probably taken him to the summit of athletics – competing with the likes of Usain Bolt. The Leicester City man was ranked 19th fastest footballer in the world by EA Sports in 2015
- Osaze Odemwingie: Modelling
When it comes to the looks, Osaze Odemwingie is definitely the David Beckham of Nigerian football. Odemwingie’s face would have been on every billboard and TV advert had he not ventured into football full-time.
- Odion Ighalo: Evangelism
When it comes to humility, faith and modesty, then it’s got to be Watford forward, Odion Ighalo. The 27-year-old usually celebrates scoring by kneeling and pointing to the heavens. He also donates massively to charity.
- Ogenyi Onazi – Comedy
The likes of Bovi, Basketmouth and Frank Donga might have struggled if Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, had missed a couple of football training sessions as a kid. The Trabzonspor midfielder got the title of master jester in the Nigeria team in 2013 few months after making his debut.
Ighalo.