7 Former Super Eagles Stars Who Returned to Play in the Nigeria Professional Football League

• After stints with clubs in Europe, some Super Eagles players decided to return to the NPFL
• It takes a lot of courage to return home to play locally, but some Nigerian players did not even think twice
• Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and a number of players returned home to help improve the image of the NPFL

A number of Super Eagles superstars returned to the country to feature in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Although the target destination for Nigerian players is abroad, some decided to return home to play in the local league.

A lot of players actually started their respective careers in the NPFL before moving abroad, but it is extremely courageous to leave a club abroad and then return to play locally.

Here we look at Super Eagles superstars who returned to play in the NPFL:

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1. Dele Aiyenugba

Despite spending over 13 years with clubs in Israel, the impressive goalkeeper returned to the NPFL as he featured for Kwara United.

He began his footballing career with Kwars Stars in 1998 and later moved to Enyimba, before leaving in the year 2007 to ply his trade abroad.

2. Rashidi Yekini

Yekini began his professional career with Kaduna-based club UNTL and also played for Shooting Stars, Abiola Babes and Africa Sports in Cote d’Ivoire. In 1990, he moved to Europe joining the Portuguese club Setubal.

He also featured for Olympiacos, Sporting Gijon, FC Zurich, Bizerte (Tunisia) and Al-Shabab.

Nigerians were stunned when the incredible scorer returned to play in Nigeria as he signed for Julius Berger in 2002. He also had a brief stint with Gateway Football Club before he retired.

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3. Ahmed Musa

The Super Eagles captain returned to the Nigeria Professional Football League in 2021 after he parted ways with Saudi outfit Al Nassr.

Musa began his career with GBS Football Academy and then had a brief stint with JUTH and Kano Pillars before penning a deal with Belgian outfit VVV-Venlo.

He also played for Russian outfit CSKA Moscow and English club Leicester City. The 30-year-old currently plays for Sivasspor of Turkey.

4. Garba Lawal

Despite playing at four AFCON tournaments, two FIFA World Cups and also winning the Olympic gold medal, Garba Lawal did not hesitate to return to play in the NPFL.

He moved to Europe in 1996 joining the Dutch club Roda and also had a stint in Belgium.

In the twilight of his career, he became a player-coach at Lobi Stars and made just three outings and scored one goal.

5. Daniel Amokachi

‘The Bull’ began his career at Ranchers Bees in 1989 and then moved to Belgian outfit Club Brugge the following year.

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He left the shores of Nigeria and signed for Belgian giants Club Brugge where he spent four seasons.

Amokachi also played in England, Turkey and the United States before returning to Nigeria in 2005 joining Nasarawa United.

6. Etim Esin

An incredible midfielder likened to Diego Maradona, Etim Esin signed for top Nigerian clubs like Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland), Flash Flamengoes and Calabar Rovers.

He moved a broad joining Belgian outfit AA Gent. He also played for rivals Lokeren and Lierse SK before moving to Turkish outfit Kayserispor.

Etim Esin later returned to Nigeria to feature for the then Eagle Cement FC, formerly known as Dolphins Football Club.

After just one year at Eagles Cement, Esin then headed West and joined Shooting Stars of Ibadan in 1998.

7. Sani Kaita

The Kano-born defensive midfielder started his career at local club Kano Pillars before moving to Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam in 2005.

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He also featured for AS Monaco, Kuban Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow, Metalist Kharkiv and Olympiakos Nicosia.

Kaita decided to return home in 2014 joining Enyimba FC on a three-month loan deal. He later featured for FC Ifeanyi Ubah before returning abroad.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that football in Africa has continued to witness levels of development, especially in the northern part of the continent.

The South African Premier Division (Premier Soccer League) had dominated the chart for several years for their level of organisation, officiating, fan turnout and other factors.

The Botola Pro League of Morocco has witnessed a turnaround and its impact was felt at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with a number of the home-based players helping the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semi-final.