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Victor Osimhen's Scudetto triumph with Napoli made him only the third Nigerian to win the Italian title, a remarkable feat considering 46 of his countrymen have played in Serie A. Let's assess his standing among these players.
Before Osimhen, Obafemi Martins and Victor Obinna Nsofor were the only two Nigerians to have won the Scudetto, both with Inter Milan in 2006 and 2009, respectively.
Determining the best 10 Nigerians to have played in Serie A is subjective and can vary based on different criteria like impact, longevity, trophies, and individual brilliance.
However, based on a combination of these factors, here are 10 Nigerian players who have made significant contributions to Serie A:
Victor Osimhen
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Victor Osimhen's time at Napoli has been nothing short of spectacular, as he helped the Blues end a 33-year wait for the Scudetto.
The striker moved to Serie A in 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million, potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons, making him the most expensive African transfer to date.
Since arriving in Italy, the Nigerian striker has rapidly established himself as one of the most formidable forwards in world football. His pace, power, and clinical finishing have been instrumental in Napoli's resurgence as a top-tier European club.
Osimhen is Nigeria's highest goal scorer in the Italian Serie A and the highest scoring African player in Serie A, overtaking George Weah. He is also the African player with the most goals in a single Serie A season, a record previously held by Samuel Eto'o.
Osimhen’s time in Serie A has clearly produced more accolades than any other Nigerian to have plied their trade there, making him the undisputed King of Nigeria in Serie A history.
Obafemi Martins
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Nicknamed “weapon of mass destruction” by Nigerians back in his prime, Obafemi Martins is one of the best players to have represented the country in the Serie A.
The striker left Nigeria for Italy at age 16, signed by Inter Milan in 2001 for a €750,000 transfer fee, but he featured for the youth team in his first season before earning promotion in the following season due to his form.
Martins became the first ever teenager to score in three consecutive Champions League seasons during the 2004–05 season, and he became the first Nigerian to win the Italian championship in 2005–06.
The striker also won two Coppa Italia trophies and one Supercoppa Italiana in the five seasons he spent at the club, scoring 49 goals in 136 appearances.
Victor Obinna Nsofor
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Victor Obinna Nsofor played for two clubs in Italy—Inter Milan and Chievo—and he achieved the feat of becoming the second Nigerian to win the Italian top-flight title.
The forward signed for Chievo in 2005 after spending a few years in the Nigerian top division, and he scored 20 goals in 89 appearances for the club.
After three years, he made the switch to Inter, where he did not feature much but was part of the squad that won the league and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Taribo West
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Veteran Super Eagles defender Taribo West was rock solid during his playing days, and he was one of the few players to have featured for both AC and Inter Milan.
The defender made the switch to Inter from Auxerre in France, and he went on to appear 64 times for the Nerazzurri, where he won the UEFA Cup in 1997–98, before moving across town to join AC Milan.
While his time at the Rossoneri was not successful, he had already impacted the league enough in his previous years with Inter.
Simy Nwankwo
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Simy Nwankwo's journey in Serie A was one where he had to defy the odds, but that did not stop him from being impressive.
Signed for newly-promoted Crotone in 2016, the striker struggled to lay down a marker in his first two seasons, which saw the club relegated.
Simy's breakout season came in 2020–21, when Crotone returned to Serie A. The Nigerian striker defied expectations by netting 20 goals, a record for any Nigerian in Europe's top five leagues at the time, though subsequently surpassed by Victor Osimhen.
Nwankwo etched his name in Serie A history by becoming the third African to score in five consecutive matches when Crotone beat Napoli 4-3 in 2021, and the fourth player to hit 20 goals for a relegated team in a single season.
Ademola Lookman
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Lookman joined Italian side Atalanta in 2022, signing a four-year deal for a reported fee of €15 million. He made an instant impact, scoring on his Serie A debut against Sampdoria.
The following January, he enjoyed a remarkable run of form, netting braces in three consecutive matches: an 8-2 league win over Salernitana, a 5-2 Coppa Italia victory against Spezia, and a 3-3 draw with Juventus.
This achievement made Lookman the first player to score a hat-trick in a one-legged European final since Pierino Prati in 1969.
Though he has only spent two seasons at Atalanta as of July 2024, he already has 32 goals in 77 appearances for them, with 24 of those goals coming in the league.
Honourable Mentions
Joel Obi: Inter, Parma, Torino, Chievo, and Salernitana (2010–19, 2021–22)
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Ola Aina: Torino (2018–20, 2021–23)
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Christian Obodo: Perugia, Fiorentina, Udinese, and Lecce (2001–10, 2011–12)
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Ogenyi Onazi: Lazio (2011–16)
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Stephen Makinwa: Modena, Atalanta, Palermo, Lazio, Reggina, Chievo (2003–10)
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A list of all Nigerians to have played in the Serie A as of July 2024
Daniel Adejo, Reggina – 2008–09
Ola Aina - Torino – 2018–20, 2021–23
Akande Ajide – Roma – 2003–04
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro – Inter – 2023–24
Mohammed Aliyu – Milan – 1998–2000
Ibrahim Babatunde – Piacenza – 2002–03
David Ankeye – Genoa – 2023–
Samuel Chukwueze – Milan – 2023–
Cyriel Dessers – Cremonese – 2022–23
Osarimen Ebagua – Catania – 2011–12
Tyronne Ebuehi – Venezia, Empoli – 2021
Kingsley Ehizibue – Udinese – 2022
Hugo Enyinnaya – Bari – 1999–2001
Odion Ighalo – Udinese, Cesena – 2008–09, 2010–11
Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi – Salernitana – 2023–24
Ikechukwu Kalu – Sampdoria – 2007–08
Nwankwo Kanu – Inter – 1997–99
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta – 2022
Stephen Makinwa – Modena, Atalanta, Palermo, Lazio, Reggina, Chievo – 2003–10
Obafemi Martins – Inter – 2002–06
Jerry Mbakogu – Carpi – 2015–16
Kingsley Michael – Bologna – 2019–20, 2021–22
Victor Moses – Inter – 2019–20
Joel Obi – Inter, Parma, Torino, Chievo, Salernitana – 2010–19, 2021–22
Victor Obinna – Chievo, Inter – 2005–07, 2008–09, 2013–14
Nwankwo Obiora – Inter, Parma – 2010–12
Christian Obodo – Perugia, Fiorentina, Udinese, Lecce – 2001–10, 2011–12
Michael Odibe – Siena – 2009–10
Nnamdi Oduamadi – Milan – 2010–11
Edward Ofere – Lecce – 2010–12
David Okereke – Venezia, Cremonese, Torino – 2021–24
Maduka Okoye – Udinese – 2023
Orji Okwonkwo – Bologna – 2016–19
Sunday Oliseh – Reggiana, Juventus – 1994–95, 1999–2000
Mathew Olorunleke – Messina – 2005–06
Akeem Omolade – Torino – 2002–03
Ogenyi Onazi – Lazio – 2011–16
Victor Osimhen – Napoli – 2020–
Umar Sadiq – Roma, Bologna, Torino – 2015–18
Nwankwo Simy – Crotone, Salernitana – 2016–18, 2020–22, 2023–24
Isaac Success – Udinese – 2021–
Taye Taiwo – Milan – 2011–12
William Troost-Ekong – Udinese, Salernitana – 2018–20, 2022–23
Adewale Wahab – Roma – 2003–04
Taribo West – Inter, Milan – 1997–2000
Kenneth Zeigbo – Venezia – 1998–99
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