The ultimate goal of a footballer is to achieve success by winning trophies. Over the years, Nigerian footballers have made their mark on the biggest stages of European football, producing dominant performances and playing pivotal roles in their team’s hunt for glory.
From Mikel Obi’s Champions League win to Ademola Lookman’s Europa League success, here are the top five Nigerian footballers to have lifted a European title.
Nwankwo Kanu
Two-time African footballer of the year, Nwankwo Kanu is the Nigerian with the most European titles. Kanu was the recipient of four European winners medal during his playing time, making him one of Africa’s most-decorated footballers.
The Super Eagles legend won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, before winning the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in the same year. After making the switch from the Netherlands to Italy, Kanu also won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan in 1998, to cap off a hugely successful career. The ex-Nigerian striker also claimed silver medals in the 1996 UEFA Champions League with Ajax Amsterdam and the 2000 UEFA Cup with Arsenal.
John Mikel Obi
The Super Eagles legend who played majorly as a defensive midfielder won two European titles during his playing career at English Premier League side Chelsea. Mikel Obi first won the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 season with Chelsea when they defeated German side Bayern Munich on penalties, with the Nigerian playing the full 120 minutes of action.
The former Blues midfielder was also part of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League winning team, although he was an unused substitute in the win over Benfica.
Finidi George
The former Super Eagles coach was a key player in Ajax Amsterdam’s run of two consecutive UEFA Champions League finals between 1994 and 1996, eventually winning the trophy in the 1994-95 season, alongside teammate Kanu Nwankwo.
Finidi George started and played the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 win over AC Milan, receiving praises for his brilliant display in the match.
Victor Moses
Nigerian winger Victor Moses was renowned for his wing back role in Chelsea’s Premier League winning run in 2017, appears as the fourth name on this list, having won two European titles with the English side.
Moses, won two UEFA Europa League titles with Chelsea, the first in the 2012-13 season alongside John Mikel Obi and also in the 2018-19 season in the 4-1 win over rivals Arsenal in the final.
Ademola Lookman
Reigning African footballer of the year, Ademola Lookman, delivered the greatest individual display in a European final when he notched a treble, to lead Atalanta to a historic Europa League victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The Super Eagles winger scored five goals and registered one assist as La Dea claimed a first-ever European title in 2024, including all three in the 3-0 win over Leverkusen in the final.
