Sthephen Keshi Media reports suggested that former Nigerian captain, defender and manager was on his way to the South African league before his passing in June 2016. Keshi is one of the most respected players to ever don the Nigerian national team colours. He won 60 International caps between 1981- 1995, a feat that makes him one of the most capped players in the country’s history.  A big, power and agile defender, Keshi had the ability to score important goals for his country. Most of his 9 goals in national team colours came when the country was in desperate situations. After winning the 1994 AFCON as captain, Keshi announced his retirement from international football. But first, the burly defender and his Nigerian teammates had impressed many at the 1994 World Cup.  Keshi went on to share his experience and knowledge of the beautiful game with the next generation of African stars across the Nigerian border. He qualified Togo for their first and only World Cup appearance in 2006. Keshi also had a successful spell as the coach of Mali. The legendary defender would eventually come back home to coach in his homeland. He was appointed national team coach in 2011 and went on to lift the AFCON crown two years later. Keshi became the first Nigerian to win the AFCON as a player and coach. However, he was not done with his record-setting habits. In 2014, he inspired his countrymen to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup, becoming the first African to lead two African countries to the FIFA World Cup. Keshi suffered a heart attack unexpectedly in 2016, many feel he left us too soon but his contribution to the beautiful game will never be erased. 

Nkwankwo Kanu One of the few players to play more games than Keshi is lanky forward Kwankwo Kanu. He is considered as one of the most skilful, talented and classy attackers to emerge from the country in recent history. As one of the most decorated Nigerian player, Kanu won 86 senior national team caps for the West African giants. He played professional football for over 15 years, featuring for some of Europe’s elite clubs. Papilo, as he was commonly known in football circles, lifted some of the most coveted trophies in his long and successful career. He was a crowd favourite in different countries including England, Italy and the Netherlands.  Back in his country of birth, the lazy looking star is considered a national hero; first, he played a starring role when the country’s under-23 side won the 1996 Olympics Games. Kanu was promoted to the senior team where he continued bringing joy to the millions of Nigerians worldwide. His eventful career was not without trial and tribulations; he was diagnosed with a heart defect ahead of his move to Italian giants Inter- Milan. Kanu showed great bravery to overcome the disease and return to playing football. On his road to recovery, he had the whole country and continent praying for him. The two-time African Player of the Year went on to display his amazing skills at six AFCONS and three FIFA World Cups.  The legendary announced his retirement from International football in 2010 to focus more on the Kanu Heart Foundation, which he started in 2000. He offers cardiovascular procedures to underprivileged African children through the foundation. Kanu is determined to put smiles back on the faces of heart defect victims by building hospitals to address the issue of heart diseases. 

Joseph Yobo Yobo’s football journey is almost similar to that of Kanu, they both left for Europe at a young age. The powerful defender ended up joining Standard Liege at the age of 18. His success at the club led to bigger teams fighting for his signature. He later joined French giants Marseille, though he did not spend much time at the club, his spell still proved fruitful. He was loaned to the English League with Everton signing him up and he became the first African captain. His move was eventually made permanent after he featured in every match for the club in his first season. He continued with consistency even with the national team. After making his International team debut against Zambia. The centre-back would play every minute for Nigeria at the 2002 AFCON and FIFA World Cup. Consistency was his best quality and after Kanu announced his retirement from International football, it was only fitting that the Kono-born star took over from him. He brought strength and stability to the country’s defence in his 101 appearances for the national team. Just like Kanu, he also featured in six AFCONS and three FIFA World Cups. Yobo, announced his retirement from International football in 2014. He lifted the 2013 AFCON crown on South African soil with Stephen Keshi at the helm. 

John Micheal Nchekwube Obinna One of the stars of the 2013 AFCON is none other than former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. The defensive midfielder carried the team on his shoulders and proved his worth as a leader during the tournament. As one of the most experienced players in the team, he had to step up and lead by example. Mikel first made a name for himself as a junior international. He was selected for the renowned Pepsi football Academy among thousands of inspiring footballers as a young boy. He went on to feature at the U/17 World Championships, where he was named among the best players of the tournament. His heroics at the tournament did not go unnoticed as he inspired his nation to a second place finish at the tournament. Mikel, went on to be the subject of a tug of war between two giants of world football Manchester United and Chelsea. After an eventful transfer window, he eventually joined the Blues where he enjoyed a long and successful career. Back home, he made his senior International debut in 2005 and a year later was part of the AFCON squad. He also featured at the 2008 edition of the tournament but had to watch the 2010 World Cup from the sidelines due to an injury. Mikel played the best football of his life in a Nigerian jersey a year ahead of the Brazil World Cup. He was selected for the team of the tournament, as Nigeria were crowned African champions in 2013. Mikel took over the captain’s armband after Yobo’s retirement from International football.   

Christain Chukwu Before Keshi made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win the AFCON as a player and coach, one legendary player came very close to achieving the unthinkable. In 2004, Christain Chukwu led his country to the semi-finals of the AFCON. The former defender had started his coaching career in the mid-1990 after a successful career with Enugu Rangers. He had a brief spell as the coach of the Kenyan national team. Soon he returned to his native country to take up the position of head coach. Chukwu was in charge of the Super Eagles between 2003 until 2005. His influence in the team can’t be ignored after he was suspended, the national team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup as they lost their last two matches, which Chukwu watched from the sidelines. The former defender became the first Nigerian captain to lift the AFCON trophy in 1980.