At the mention of Nigerian football exports to Italy, the Serie A headlines often grab the spotlight. You instantly recall Obafemi Martins’ screamers, Taribo West’s flamboyant haircuts and Victor Osimhen’s Scudetto winning exploits.
But down in the gritty, unforgiving world of Serie B, some Nigerians have quietly built cult-hero status, banging in goals and carrying clubs on their backs.
The Italian second division is no playground, it’s a warzone of tight pitches, packed stands and desperate teams clawing for a ticket to the top flight. And for these Nigerian players, it served as the perfect proving ground.
From lightning-fast wingers to ice-cold finishers, Footynaija.com runs through the top 10 Nigerian goalscorers in Serie B history.
10. Victor Obinna — 8 goals (Chievo Verona)
Obinna may be better remembered for his time in Serie A and the Premier League, but his first taste of Italian football came in Serie B with Chievo Verona. Signed in 2005 from Enyimba, the young forward lit up the second tier with his pace and flair.
He bagged 8 goals in 32 appearances during the 2006/2007 season but that campaign wasn’t just about the goals. Obinna’s directness in attack and creativity helped Chievo push for promotion. Soon enough, Serie A came calling, but his short stay in Serie B showed glimpses of the attacking threat he’d later become.
9. Saidu Alade Adeshina — 10 goals (Crotone, Venezia)
Adeshina’s Serie B career wasn’t all that glamorous but he did enough to make this list. The powerful centre-forward joined Crotone in 2003, spending four seasons battling defenders and netting 8 goals in 56 appearances. He later moved to Venezia for a brief spell, adding 2 more goals in 15 matches. While not the most prolific scorer on this list, his physical presence and ability to hold up play made him a valuable asset to his teams, often allowing others to shine while he did the dirty work.
8. Orji Okwonkwo — 11 goals (Brescia, Cosenza)
Nicknamed “The Tank” for his explosive strength, Okwonkwo brought a mix of raw power and direct dribbling to Serie B. His most productive spell came at Brescia between 2018 and 2020, where he bagged 8 goals in 46 games. A loan to Cosenza followed, adding 3 more goals to his tally. While injuries slowed him down, Okwonkwo’s ability to bully defenders and pop up with decisive goals has kept him in the conversation as one of Nigeria’s most impactful modern forwards in Serie B.
7. Stephen Makinwa — 12 goals (Genoa, Modena)
Before his Serie A exploits with Lazio and Palermo, Makinwa developed his craft in Serie B. He joined Genoa in 2004, making an instant impact with 6 goals in 18 games. Switching to Modena later that year, he repeated his scoring feat at Genoa and bagged another 6 goals in 21 matches. Makinwa’s success in Serie B quickly earned him a move to the top flight, but his second-tier days remain a key part of his Italian legacy.
6. Nnamdi Oduamadi — 12 goals (Torino, Brescia, Crotone, Latina)
Oduamadi’s Serie B journey was a bit of a tour, highlighted by stints at four different clubs, flashes of brilliance and plenty of hard graft. His best spell came with Crotone, where he scored 5 goals in the 2013/2014 season. Stints at Torino, Brescia and Latina brought the rest of his tally. A pacy winger who was fearless in one-on-one situations, Oduamadi’s versatility made him a go-to option for managers needing width and pace.
5. David Okereke — 12 goals (Spezia, Cremonese)
Before making it to big leagues like Serie A and the Belgian Pro League, Okereke was a rising star in Serie B. His breakout came at Spezia, where he bagged 10 goals in the 2018/2019 season alone and earned a big move to Club Brugge. He later returned to Italy’s second division with Cremonese, scoring twice in their push for promotion. Okereke is back to enjoying top flight football with Gaziantep in the Turkish Super Lig.
4. Isah Eliakwu — 18 goals (Triestina, Spezia)
Eliakwu’s Serie B career was built on consistency. He joined Triestina in 2005 and immediately became a key man, netting 15 goals over four seasons. A short stint with Spezia brought 3 more goals. Though not a headline-grabbing star, Eliakwu was the type of striker coaches loved. He was disciplined, hardworking and always chipping in with goals when it mattered most.
3. Simy Nwankwo — 40 goals (Crotone, Salernitana, Bari)
The towering Simy is a modern Serie B legend. Arriving at Crotone in 2016, he helped the club fight for survival in Serie A before becoming their talisman in the second tier. His most famous season came in 2019/2020, when he scored 20 goals, firing Crotone to promotion. Later stints with Salernitana and Bari added to his tally, cementing his place as one of Nigeria’s most prolific scorers in Italy’s second division.
2. Jerry Mbakogu — 43 goals (Spezia, Juve Stabia, Carpi)
Mbakogu’s Serie B story is defined by his time at Carpi, where he became a cult hero. After early spells with Spezia and Juve Stabia, he exploded at Carpi, scoring 15 goals in their historic 2014/2015 promotion season.
Across five years at the club, Mbakogu’s pace, strength and big-game mentality made him one of the most feared forwards in the league. Few Nigerians have been as influential to a club’s success in Serie B as Jerry Mbakogu.
1. Osarimen Ebagua — 62 goals (Torino, Varese, Spezia, Bari, Como, Pro Vercelli, Novara)
At the top of the list and by some distance, is the ultimate Nigerian Serie B marksman, Osarimen Ebagua. A journeyman in the truest sense, Ebagua’s career saw him terrorise defences in the colours of seven different clubs.
Varese was where he really became a star, scoring 34 goals over three seasons. At Torino, he chipped in with 9 more, helping them in their promotion chase. Stints at Spezia, Bari, Como, Pro Vercelli, and Novara brought the rest of his tally, with Ebagua’s physicality, intelligent movement and keen eye for goal making him virtually unplayable on his day.
While others on this list had shorter, sharper spells, Ebagua’s longevity and consistency stand him out as the undisputed Nigerian king of Serie B.