Arthur Okonkwo Names All-Time Super Eagles XI: Osimhen, Okocha and Enyeama In — Kanu, Yekini and Oliseh Left Out

Wrexham shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo, who recently committed his international future to Nigeria after reportedly being convinced by head coach Eric Chelle to turn down England, has named his personal all-time Super Eagles Greatest XI — and the reaction has been swift and divisive.

The 24-year-old London-born goalkeeper, who was born in 2001, structured his side in an attacking 4-3-3 formation. Vincent Enyeama was his choice between the posts, with a defensive line of Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Elderson Echiejilé. The midfield three consisted of Wilfred Ndidi, John Obi Mikel, and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, while the forward line featured Victor Moses, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman. The selection was posted on May 23, 2026, via the official Super Eagles Twitter account.

The omissions that immediately drew attention were those of Nwankwo Kanu — a two-time African Footballer of the Year — Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with 37 international goals, and Sunday Oliseh, one of the country’s most-capped players. The absence of long-serving forward Ahmed Musa also drew scrutiny, with at least one commentator on social media questioning whether regional bias played a role in his exclusion.

Reaction across social media platforms was immediate. Supporters of an older generation criticised the selection as evidence of a limited footballing education, with one user bluntly stating that Okonkwo “doesn’t know anything” and “probably didn’t watch a single Nigerian game” growing up. Another fan sarcastically questioned whether he had ever heard of the Super Eagles’ golden era — a period widely associated with Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and their 1996 Olympic gold medal, which featured the likes of Kanu, Yekini, and Oliseh as central figures.

However, a significant portion of supporters defended Okonkwo’s selections on the grounds that his choices logically reflect the players he grew up watching. One commenter argued that those who disagreed with his all-time XI “will always have a problem with Gen Z,” adding that the lineup represented a “proper all-time eleven” given his age. His inclusion of Enyeama — widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest-ever goalkeepers and a key figure during Lille’s Ligue 1 title win in 2011 — was particularly praised, with local fans citing it as proof of genuine footballing knowledge.

The forward selections of Osimhen and Lookman also carry clear contemporary logic. Osimhen, currently among the most sought-after strikers in world football, has been linked with several top European clubs, while Lookman enjoyed a standout 2024-25 club season, including a match-winning hat-trick in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May 2024.

Okonkwo is currently in camp with the Super Eagles as Nigeria prepare to defend the Unity Cup title, with their opening fixture against Zimbabwe scheduled for Tuesday, May 26. The tournament represents one of his earliest opportunities to establish himself as the country’s first-choice goalkeeper under Chelle’s management. Whether his all-time selections age well or not, the goalkeeper has at least demonstrated an ability to generate headlines well beyond the pitch.