Back
Barau FC General Manager, Dominic Iorfa, has unveiled his all-time best XI of Nigerian footballers he had the privilege of playing alongside during his career at club and international levels.
The former Nigerian international’s selection brings together some of the country’s most celebrated football personalities, reflecting an era that produced outstanding talents across different positions.
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai gets the nod between the posts, with the late Yisa Shofoluwe, Bright Omokaro and Stephen Keshi providing the defensive options.
Rufai was one of Nigeria’s most accomplished goalkeepers and represented the country at two FIFA World Cups, in 1994 and 1998.
Shofoluwe was a dependable defender fondly remembered as the ‘Dean of Defence’, while Keshi captained Nigeria to the 1994 AFCON title and later coached the country to another continental triumph in 2013.
Omokaro was another prominent defender of his generation, featuring for Nigeria during the country’s successful period in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The midfield selection features Ademola Adeshina, Sunday Ikwuagwu, Ndubuisi Okosieme, Sylvanus Okpala and Dahiru Sadi.
Adeshina was a member of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON-winning squad and one of the country’s respected midfielders. Okosieme also represented Nigeria at the 1988 AFCON, while Okpala was part of the Green Eagles generation that won the continental title in 1980.
Ikwuagwu and Sadi complete the midfield selection, representing the depth of talent Iorfa encountered during his playing days.
Leading the attack is the late Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer, alongside Humphrey Edobor.
Yekini remains one of the most celebrated strikers in Nigerian football history, having scored the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in 1994. He also won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1993.
Edobor completes the attacking selection, rounding off an XI that reflects Iorfa’s personal experiences and appreciation of Nigerian football’s rich history.