Arthur Okonkwo has revealed his all-time Super Eagles best XI, with the Wrexham goalkeeper selecting a side dominated by players from the modern era of Nigerian football.
The 24-year-old, who recently committed his international future to Nigeria after switching allegiance from England, left out several iconic names including Nwankwo Kanu.
Born in 2001, Okonkwo’s selections reflected the generation of players he watched growing up, with most of his choices coming from the last 15 years.
Enyeama leads defensive selections
There was little surprise in his decision to select Vincent Enyeama in goal. The former Lille goalkeeper remains one of the most celebrated figures in Nigerian football history after captaining the Super Eagles to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title.
In defence, Okonkwo opted for Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Elderson Echiéjilé.
Aina and Bassey remain central figures in the current national team setup, while Troost-Ekong only recently stepped away from international football.
Kanu and Yekini miss out
One of the biggest surprises came in midfield, where Okonkwo preferred Wilfred Ndidi and John Obi Mikel ahead of legendary names like Sunday Oliseh.
Further forward, he included Jay-Jay Okocha as his attacking midfielder, a selection unlikely to spark much debate given Okocha’s status as one of Nigeria’s most gifted footballers ever.
In attack, Okonkwo chose Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Victor Moses, leaving out legendary forwards such as Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and Kanu.
Osimhen’s inclusion comes after several record-breaking seasons for club and country, while Lookman’s recent form for Nigeria and Atletico Madrid has elevated his reputation across Africa and Europe.
Moses also remains highly regarded for his key role in Nigeria’s successful 2013 AFCON campaign under the late Stephen Keshi.
Okonkwo, meanwhile, is only beginning his own journey with the Super Eagles after receiving his first senior call-up for the Unity Cup and upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal.