Following the NFF’s vow to stop NPFL stars from playing in obscure leagues in Europe, Goal looks at Nigerian players who have gained from such a move

Pinnick to NPFL players on mushroom clubs

While addressing home-based Super Eagles players before squaring up against Mexico on Saturday night, the NFF president promised to help players plying their trade in the Nigeria Professional Football League, to avoid unknown leagues in Europe.

“If you’re living in Nigeria, you’re going to a top club. Villarreal, Valencia, Lille, and all those proud footballing clubs and not to one mushroom club that you’re better off,” he said.

“I want to expose you, people, to the highest levels so when you’re going to a foreign club, and we won’t allow any agent take you to countries like Cyprus, Belarus, etc.

“No, never we won’t allow it and I will make sure no transfer is issued on situations like that.”

Now, Goal compiles a list of Super Eagles stars who have benefitted from moves to ‘mushroom clubs’.

Moses Simon – AS Trencin

The Nantes winger is undisputedly one of the top Nigerian stars in the French Ligue 1.

Simon started his professional career in Slovakia with Trencin, however, he has risen to represent one of the top-five leagues in Europe.

From Trencin, the Nigeria international went to Belgium’s Gent then Levante before settling in Nantes in 2020 on a permanent deal after an initial loan.

On the international scene, he is a constant figure in Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles.

Emmanuel Dennis – Zorya Luhansk

Watford new signing Dennis commenced his journey to prominence with a brief stint in Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk after leaving his academy in Abuja.

The 23-year-old even earned his Europa League debut at the Slavutych Arena in November 2016 against Feyenoord and he  played against Premier League side, Manchester United during the group stage.

His impressive spell in Ukraine saw Club Brugge sign him – from where he joined the Premier League outfit on a five-year deal.

At Vicarage Road, he is expected to play a crucial role as Xisco Munoz’s team, aiming to avoid demotion to the English second-tier.

Fegor Ogude – Valerenga

Ogude impressed during his time at Nigeria’s top-flight side, Warri Wolves before he moved to Norway.

The former Super Eagles midfielder played for Valerenga between 2010 and 2013.

During that time, he was part of the successful Nigeria squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. That same year, he made the cut to the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Ogude later moved to Russia to play for Amkar Perm and Yenisey Krasnoyarsk, ending his career at the latter in 2019. 

Abdullahi Shehu – Qadsia

The 28-year-old made a name for himself in the Nigeria Professional Football League with stints at Plateau United and Kano Pillars before switching to Kuwait in 2014.

Shehu joined Kuwaiti Premier League club Qadsia for a reported fee of $480,000. After just one season in the Asian country, he moved to Portugal’s CF Uniao in June 2015.

Presently, the Super Eagles defender is among the regular faces in Gernot Rohr’s squad and he was a member of the Dream Team VI who won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Jamilu Collins – Rijeka

The Kaduna-born left-back started his professional career with Croatia’s HNK Rijeka in 2012 after rising through the youth ranks at Abuja Football College Academy.

During his five-year spell with the club, he enjoyed loan stints at Pomorac, Rijeka II, Krka, Sibenik and Istra 1961.

Collins eventually secured a move to German third division club Paderborn in September 2017 and he helped the club earn promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019.

The Nigeria international broke his Bundesliga duck in a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich in September 2019 and he was part of Rohr’s squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.