By Kunle Solaja.

Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami has paid glowing tribute to former Green Eagles goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala on the occasion of his 75th birthday, describing him as the “safest pair of goalkeeping hands on the African continent.”

In an emotional LinkedIn post on Sunday, Odegbami joined other admirers in celebrating the former Nigeria national football team star, fondly known as “Babuje,” “Man Mountain” and “Tallest” during his illustrious playing career.

Odegbami and Okala shared a fierce but respectful rivalry in Nigerian club football during the 1970s, with Odegbami starring for Shooting Stars Sports Club, then known as IICC Shooting Stars, while Okala was the commanding figure in goal for Enugu Rangers. The pair were also teammates in the national team setup, then known as the Green Eagles.

Former rivals and teammates during their playing days: from left, Samuel Ojebode, captain of Shooting Stars Sports Club and left-back of the Green Eagles; Christian Chukwu, captain of Enugu Rangers and the Green Eagles; Segun Odegbami, the attacking livewire of Shooting Stars and the Green Eagles; and Emmanuel Okala, the legendary “Rock of Gibraltar” for Rangers and Nigeria’s Green Eagles.

“Before this day ends, I wish to add my humble voice to the chorus of congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the birth of ‘Man Mountain’, ‘Tallest’, Chief Emmanuel Okala, MON,” Odegbami wrote.

He praised Okala’s extraordinary achievements in African football, recalling that the towering goalkeeper became the first Nigerian footballer to be named Africa’s Best Player by the African Sports Journalists Union.

“He was the safest pair of goalkeeping hands on the African continent,” Odegbami stated while praying for continued good health and long life for his former teammate and friend.

The former Nigerian captain added that his message was sent “on behalf of all generations of Nigerian football players,” underlining the enduring respect Okala commands within the country’s football community.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers, Okala enjoyed a distinguished career with Rangers and the Green Eagles, winning several domestic honours and playing a major role in Nigeria’s rise as a continental football force in the 1970s. His imposing presence, reflexes and leadership earned him legendary status in Nigerian football history.

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New Head Coach Abdu Maikaba has begun the rebuilding process of Nigeria’s U20 national team after inviting 35 players to camp ahead of the WAFU B U20 Championship scheduled for Côte d’Ivoire in July.

The invited players are expected to report to camp in Abuja on Saturday as preparations begin for the regional competition, which also serves as a major platform for talent discovery and qualification battles in West African youth football.

Maikaba’s first provisional squad reflects a blend of home-based talents and a handful of Europe-based youngsters, suggesting an attempt to balance local league development with foreign exposure.

The list includes players drawn from Nigeria Premier Football League clubs, lower-division sides, academies and overseas teams in Croatia, Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Among the notable inclusions are Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Clinton Lawani, Croatia-based Abubakar Rufai of NK-Istra 1961, and Akwa United’s Uchechukwu Aloysius.

In defence, Maikaba called up Spain-based Wahab Bolanle Musa of FC Malaga, alongside home-based prospects such as Ayinla Olayomi of Warri Wolves and Abubakar Aliyu of Wikki Tourists.

The midfield department features a mix of creativity and physical presence, including Imran Ahmad of Kano Pillars, Sale Abdulrashid from Kryubar FC in Ukraine, and Simon Karshe Cletus of FC Rijeka in Croatia.

Up front, Maikaba appears to have focused heavily on pace and attacking depth, with invitations extended to Katsina United striker Abba Dalli, Spain-based Imrana Mohammed of FC Alaves, and Sporting Lagos duo Seun Akanji and Alex Leme.

The inclusion of several academy products also underlines the continuing role grassroots football is playing in Nigeria’s youth-team structure.

Observers will be keen to see the style and identity Maikaba introduces to the Flying Eagles after taking over the team, especially with Nigeria seeking to reassert its dominance in the WAFU B region and build another generation capable of competing strongly at continental and global levels.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles remain one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, having won the Africa U20 Cup of Nations multiple times and finishing runners-up twice at the FIFA U20 World Cup.

The WAFU B Championship in Côte d’Ivoire is expected to provide the first real test of Maikaba’s new squad and technical direction.

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By Kunle Solaja

As the Nigeria Premier Football League celebrates 36 years of professional football, one troubling pattern continues to define the competition — the inability of most league top scorers to evolve into enduring stars of the Nigeria national football team.

In more than three decades of professional football, only one league top scorer can truly claim to have successfully crossed the bridge from domestic hero to established Super Eagles icon: Ahmed Musa.

The former Kano Pillars F.C. striker remains the outstanding exception in a league littered with what many observers now describe as “one-season wonders.”

Musa announced himself to Nigerian football in the 2009/2010 season when he scored 18 goals to emerge as the league’s leading scorer, breaking the long-standing 17-goal record set by Ishaya Jatau in the inaugural professional season of 1990.

Unlike many before and after him, Musa successfully translated domestic brilliance into international relevance.

He went on to become Nigeria’s fastest-ever scorer and remains the only Nigerian player to score two braces at the FIFA World Cup — against Argentina national football team in 2014 and Iceland national football team in 2018.

Yet Musa’s success only magnifies the larger mystery surrounding the Nigerian league: why have so many prolific scorers failed to reproduce their domestic form at the national team level?

The list is remarkably long.

The first professional league top scorer, Ishaya Jatau of Heartland F.C. — then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale — scored 17 goals in 1990 but managed only one goal in a handful of appearances for Nigeria.

Despite his reputation as a deadly finisher in the league, his wastefulness in national team colours reportedly left then-coach Clemens Westerhof unconvinced.

From there, a pattern emerged.

Players such as Olumide Harris, Ben Agadah, Paul Kpoughoul and Emmanuel Agbo dominated league scoring charts but disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived.

Others, including Peter Ijeh, Victor Ezeji and Joseph Akpala, briefly tasted national team football but never secured lasting places in the Super Eagles.

The problem has persisted across generations.

Even players who set impressive scoring records in recent years struggled to establish themselves internationally.

Mfon Udoh set a league record of 23 goals in the 2013/14 season for Enyimba F.C., while Junior Lokosa, Anthony Okpotu and Godwin Obaje all enjoyed prolific domestic campaigns.

Yet none became long-term Super Eagles regulars.

The contrast with Nigeria’s greatest striker, Rashidi Yekini, remains striking.

Yekini’s 37 international goals still stand untouched decades after his retirement.

Observers believe several factors may explain the recurring failure of league top scorers to mature into elite internationals.

One issue is consistency.

Many players explode for a single season before suffering dramatic drops in form. Some quickly leave Nigeria in search of opportunities abroad, often joining lower-profile leagues where their development stagnates.

Others struggle with the tactical and physical demands of international football, where defenders are stronger, spaces are tighter, and opportunities are fewer.

There is also the quality question.

Critics argue that the Nigerian league’s inconsistent standards sometimes inflate the reputations of local strikers, making domestic scoring records misleading indicators of international readiness.

In several seasons, top scorers emerged with relatively modest tallies. Arthur Moses won the golden boot in 1992 with just 10 goals, while Peter Anyiolobi topped the 1996 chart with only nine.

The instability of clubs and coaching systems has equally affected player development.

Unlike elite leagues where strikers are nurtured within structured tactical environments, many NPFL forwards operate in unstable teams with limited sports science support, inconsistent officiating and poor playing conditions.

Still, the league continues to produce raw attacking talent.

What remains missing is a system capable of transforming prolific domestic scorers into complete international forwards capable of sustaining excellence over many years.

As the NPFL clocks 36, the enduring question remains unanswered: why does Nigeria consistently produce league top scorers, yet so rarely produce strikers capable of dominating African and world football the way Yekini once did?

Top scorers who failed to make an impact in the Super Eagles

• 1990-Ishaya Jatau (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 17 goals
• 1991-Richard Ojomo (Bendel United), 12 goals
• 1992-Arthur Moses (Super Stores), 10 goals
• 1993-Tony Nwigwe (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 13 goals
• 1994-Olumide Harris (Shooting Stars), 14 goals
• 1995-Ben Agadah (Gombe United), 12 goals
• 1996-Peter Anyiolobi (Enyimba), 9 goals
• 1997-Paul Kpoughoul (Jasper United/BCC Lions), 16 goals
• 1998-Hassan Minda (Gombe United), 14goals
• 1999-Emmanuel Agbo (Iwuanyanwu Nationale), 14 goals
• 2000-Peter Ijeh (Julius Berger), 14 goals
• 2001-Uche Okereke (Enugu Rangers), 13 goals
• 2002-Joetex Frimpong (El-Kanemi), Victor Ezeji (Dolphins), 16 goals
• 2003-Chibuzor Ozurumba (Iwuanyanwu), Endurance Idahor (Julius Berger), 12 goals each
• 2004-Kabiru Alausa (Berger), 13 goals
• 2005-Timothy Anjembe (Lobi Stars), Joseph Akpala (Insurance), Charles Omokaro (Sharks), 12 goals each 2006 -Ibenebu Ikechukwu (El Kanemi), 10 goals
• 2007 – Ameh Aruwa (Kaduna United), 10 goals
• 2007/2008 – Abubakar Babale (Wikki Tourist/Sunshine Stars), 14 goals
• 2008/2009 – Akarandut Orok (Akwa United), 17 goals
• 2009/2010 – Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars), 18 goals. (The only one established in the Super Eagles)
• 2010/2011 – Jude Aneke (Kaduna United) 20 Goals
• 2011/2012 – Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes) 17 goals
• 2012/213 – Victor Namo (Nasarawa United) 18 goals
• 2013/2014 – Mfon Udoh (Enyimba) 23 goals
• 2014/2015 – Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves) 17 goals
• 2015/2016 – Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists) 18 goals
• 2016/2017 – Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) 19 goals
• 2017/2018 – Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars) 19
• 2018/2019 – Mfon Udoh (Akwa Utd) & Ibrahim Sunusi (Nasarawa Utd) 10 goals
• 2019/2020 – Cancelled owing to Covid-19
• 2020/21: Silas Nwankwo (Nasawara United) & Charles Atshimene (Akwa United) – 19 goals
• 2021/22: Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United) – 19 goals
• 2022/23: Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba) – 16 goals
• 2023/24: Chijioke Mbaoma (Enyimba) – 17 goals

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