Nigerian players have long had a special connection with Serie A. From Taribo West’s defensive grit to Victor Osimhen’s Scudetto-winning brilliance, Super Eagles stars have consistently brought their unique talents to Italy’s top flight, Footynaija.com reports.
In this piece, we take you through the Top 5 Super Eagles stars whose success stories continue to inspire a new generation of Nigerian footballers dreaming of lighting up the stadiums of Rome, Milan and Naples.
5. Taribo West – Inter Milan and AC Milan
West, known at the time for his colorful hairstyles and uncompromising defending, attained cult hero status in Italy. He joined Inter Milan in 1997 and helped the Nerazzurri lift the 97/98 UEFA Cup, playing a key role in their European triumph. While his spell at AC Milan was brief, West’s versatility and toughness ensured he remained a reliable presence at the back. Though he wasn’t scoring goals or grabbing assists, his defensive contributions made him one of Nigeria’s most iconic exports to Serie A.
4. Obafemi Martins – Inter Milan
Martins was an electrically exciting forward during his days at Inter Milan in the early 2000s. His blistering pace and acrobatic celebrations made him a fan favourite at the Guiseppe Meazza. Martins scored 28 goals in Serie A and won a Serie A title (05/06), two Coppa Italia trophies, and a Supercoppa Italiana during his time at the San Siro. Whether as a starter or coming off the bench, he always brought excitement and unpredictability to Inter’s attack.
3. Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo – Crotone and Salernitana
Despite only playing for smaller clubs, Simy remains one of the best Nigerians to grace the Italian top-flight. At Crotone, the towering striker had a phenomenal 20/21 season, scoring 20 Serie A goals to finish fifth in the league’s scoring charts. It was the highest tally ever by a Nigerian in a single Serie A campaign. Although he couldn’t prevent Crotone’s relegation, Simy’s calm finishing and poacher’s instinct made him a standout performer in Italy’s top flight.
2. Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Lookman’s arrival at Atalanta in 2022 was seen as a gamble by some, but the forward has since silenced doubters and transformed himself into one of Serie A’s most feared attackers. With 52 goals and 21 assists in 118 appearances, the Super Eagles forward has become a talisman for Atalanta. His crowning moment came in the 23/24 UEFA Europa League final, where he scored a stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure La Dea’s first European trophy in history. In just a short time, Lookman has not only elevated Atalanta but also solidified his place as one of the most successful Nigerian players in Serie A history.
1. Victor Osimhen – Napoli
Osimhen sits at the top of this list – and for good reason. The powerful striker was sensational for Napoli after arriving from Lille in 2020. In the 22/23 season, Osimhen fired Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, scoring 26 Serie A goals to win the Capocannoniere as the league’s top scorer. His pace, strength and clinical finishing made him the heartbeat of a historic title charge, and he also picked up the Serie A Best Striker award. Overall, he scored 76 goals in 133 outings for the Partenopei and although his time in Naples appears to be ending on a sour note, Osimhen’s name is now etched into Napoli folklore as one of their greatest-ever players.