AFCON 2013 Champions: Where Are Nigeria's Heroes Now?

2013 AFCON Champions

AFCON 2013 Champions: Where Are Nigeria's Heroes Now?

Hassan Abdulsalam 19:31 - 20.12.2023

This remarkable team will always be remembered for their triumph at the AFCON in 2013 under the guidance of the late Stephen Keshi.

Here's an update on where they are now:

Vincent Enyeama (Goalkeeper)

After a successful career with Lille in France, Enyeama retired from international football and has been a free agent since leaving Lille in 2018. He confirmed last year that he has been training in France, hoping to find a club before returning to Nigeria​​​​.

Vincent Enyeama was Nigeria's safest pair of hands

Efe Ambrose (Right Back)

Ambrose, who was with Celtic during the AFCON win, plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship​​​​.

Efe Ambrose
Efe Ambrose Efe Ambrose

Kenneth Omeruo (Right Center Back):

Omeruo, who was on loan at ADO Den Haag from Chelsea during the AFCON, now plays for CD Leganes in the Spanish 2nd tier​​​​.

Kenneth Omeruo
Kenneth Omeruo Kenneth Omeruo

Godfrey Oboabona (Left Center Back)

Oboabona moved to Turkish club Caykur Rizespor after the AFCON victory and later played in Georgia with Dinamo Batumi. He has been without a club since leaving Batumi in 2020​​​​.

Godfrey Oboabona
Godfrey Oboabona Godfrey Oboabona

Elderson Echiejile (Left Back)

Echiejile, who was with Stade Rennais in France during the AFCON, is currently without a club after leaving HJK Helsinki of Finland​​​​.

Elderson Echiejile
Elderson Echiejile Elderson Echiejile

Ogenyi Onazi (Right Central Midfield)

Onazi, formerly with Lazio, had a spell in Turkey and is now a free agent after his last stint with Denizlispor​​​​.

Ogenyi Onazi
Ogenyi Onazi Ogenyi Onazi

John Obi Mikel (Left Central Midfield):

Mikel, who had a notable career at Chelsea, is back in England with Stoke City after playing for Tianjin Teda in China​​​​.

John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel John Obi Mikel

Brown Ideye (Left Wing Forward): 

Ideye moved to various clubs across Europe and Asia after Dynamo Kyiv, and he is currently playing for Al-Yarmouk in Kuwait​​​​.

Brown Ideye
Brown Ideye Brown Ideye

Sunday Mba (Central Attacking Midfield):

Mba, the match-winner in the final, has been without a club since playing for Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey during the 2015/2016 season​​​​.

Sunday Mba
Sunday Mba Sunday Mba

Emmanuel Emenike (Striker):

Emenike, a crucial player in the 2013 AFCON, retired in 2019 after playing for several clubs, including KVC Westerlo​​​​.

Emmanuel Emenike
Emmanuel Emenike Emmanuel Emenike

Ahmed Musa (Right Wing Forward):

Musa has had an illustrious career with CSKA Moscow and other clubs and currently plays in Turkey with Sivasspor​​​​.

Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa Ahmed Musa

Other players like Azubuike Egwuekwe, Reuben Gabriel, Ejike Uzoenyi, and Fegor Ogude have had varying success.

They are at different career points, some still playing and others retiring​​​​​​.

This remarkable team will always be remembered for their triumph at the AFCON in 2013 under the guidance of the late Stephen Keshi.

2013 AFCON Champions
2013 AFCON Champions 2013 AFCON Champions

Their current endeavours reflect the diverse paths that professional athletes often take after achieving great success in their sport.

Tags: