Ajax legendary winger Finidi George has been voted Nigeria’s favorite number seven ever.
When we say number seven, we mean favorite right winger, not necessarily that all the players wore No 7 shirt.
We took a vote from 50 veteran sports journalists across the country and it turn out to be a two horse race between the eventual winner Finidi George, who got 26 votes and Segun Odegbami who got 24 votes.
1. Finidi George
Finidi is the only African listed in the World's greatest No 7 ever, just next to David Beckham of England and Manchester United.
Finidi was known for his very accurate crosses from the flank, like no one else ever did. His pace and dribbling are some of the skills that stood him out among others. As well as his eccletic goal celebration at the 1998 World cup
Above all, Finidi was seen as one of the world's most efficient No 7. So much so that his videos are still being shown to train young players in Ajax and some of the top football academies around the world.
Finidi was a key player and regular in the lengdary Ajax Amsterdam team that won the UEFA Champions league as well as Nigeria national team that won African cup of nations and qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1994.
2. Segun Odegbami
IICC superstar Segun Odegbami was voted second, while some of the veteran journalists argued that because Finidi's skills went Off-shore, but anyone who saw Odegbami play, knew he was simply the best.
Odegbami wasn't just a winger, he was a nightmare to defenders. Nicknamed Mathematical for his quick and calculated dribbles, which was associated to his education as a graduate of The Polytechnic Ibadan where he studied Engineering.
Odegbami's playing style was intense, more of a playmaker who started attack any time the ball got to him. He was famous for his skill on the ball, speed and precision of his crosses from the right wing.
Odegbami won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the Nigeria national team which he guided to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.
He played for IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan his entire career, from 1970 to 1984 and won the Nigeria Division one league 3 times and challenge cup (FA Cup) 2 times.
3. Daniel Okwudili (Danny Boy)
Never have we found another right winger like Daniel Okwudili. Better known as "Danny boy. " Danny boy was a showman extravaganza, a ball entertainer, and a little bit mesmerizing than JJ Okocha.
Surprisingly, Daniel Okwudili was massively voted by the veteran journalists with 18 votes to beat Ahmed Musa to fourth position.
Not many knew his real name was Daniel Okwudili, Danny Boy was very popular player from Hussey College, Warri, one of the very early superstar players that hit Nigerian football scene playing for Marine FC of warri and later moved to Lagos.
Danny Boy was a rare breed of player that brings something special to the game. He was a crowd puller and fans came all the way from Abeokuta, Ibadan and Akure just to watch Danny Boy do his thing.
He was also an athlete. He ran and broke Nigeria’s 100 yards sprints’ record. He ran it during a meet in Lagos in 9.9 seconds, beating the great Nigerian sprinter, Olowu, to second position.
His football was incredible. His weapon was his speed. He would sprint past defenders, leaving them for dead. He was simply the best right winger of that era.
4. Ahmed Musa
CSKA Moscow speedster, Ahmed Musa get defenders running like in a 100 metre or 200 metre race.Chasing Musa was a tall order for most players and some commentators tease that Musa run even faster than the ball in a through pass.
Musa is like a demi-god in the city of Kano, Jos and the Russian capital, Moscow. He played key role in helping CSKA win the Russian Premier League thrice from 2012 - 2916.
Musa was the top scorer in the Nigeria Premier League with 18 goals in 2009 and also in the Russia Premier League in 2013. He was in the list of 33 best football players ever in the championship of Russia and CAF team of the year 2014.
Musa became the first Nigerian to score a brace in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and repeated it again in 2018.
Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring twice against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Full List of Players Who Got Votes from the Poll
1. Finidi George – Ajax
2. Segun Odegbami (Mathematical) – IICC Shorting Stars
3. Daniel Okwudili (Danny Boy) - Marine
4. Ahmed Musa – CSKA Moscow,
5. Tarila Okoronwata - Julius Berger
6. Tijani Babagida (Speed Racer) – Roda
7. Daniel Amokachie (The bull) - Everton
8. Paul Hamilton (Wonder boy)
9. Clement Temile
10. Ndubusi Okosieme - Flash Flamingoes
11.Baba Otu Mohammed - Mighty Jets
12. Samuel Okpodu - Bendel Insurance
