With the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, set to kick off in Morroco on December 21, 2025, one area where the nation’s talent pool remains rich is in midfield creativity. Despite this, the Super Eagles has been lacking the needed depth in the mid-field.
However, across Europe and beyond, a new generation of Nigerian playmakers is rising—footballers with the intelligence to retain possession under pressure, the vision to open compact defensive blocks, and the daring to deliver killer passes that change matches in an instant.
From England to Belgium, Portugal to Italy, these fifteen players represent the strongest spread of Nigerian midfield creativity currently operating abroad. Their blend of technique, composure, and forward-thinking football sets them apart in a global game increasingly defined by tactical discipline.
Alex Iwobi – Fulham, England
Iwobi remains Nigeria’s most reliable creative outlet in Europe’s top leagues. At Fulham, he has matured into a complete midfield operator—press resistant, sharp in tight spaces, and decisive in the final third. Iwobi’s ability to link midfield with attack and produce line-splitting passes under pressure makes him indispensable in matches requiring patience and intelligence.
Kelechi Nwakali – GD Chaves, Portugal
Few Nigerian players abroad possess Nwakali’s natural playmaking instincts. Operating as a deep-lying creator, he dictates tempo with ease and excels in breaking defensive lines using disguised or lofted passes. His command of rhythm and positional awareness distinguishes him as one of the most cerebral Nigerian midfielders currently competing in Europe.
Raphael Onyedika – Club Brugge, Belgium
Onyedika blends athleticism with exceptional ball use. At Club Brugge, he has developed into a hybrid No. 6/8 who retains possession under duress while initiating vertical attacks. His comfort receiving the ball in crowded zones and distributing quickly into advanced spaces underpins his rising profile.
Chidozie Awaziem – Nantes, France
Though traditionally a defender, Awaziem has occasionally been deployed in midfield, where his calmness in possession and progressive passing have been praised. When used as a screening midfielder, he provides excellent ball retrieval and contributes effectively to build-up phases, particularly against teams that sit deep.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – Lazio, Italy
Dynamic and unpredictable, Dele-Bashiru is one of the most explosive Nigerian midfielders abroad. His forward surges, ball-carrying power, and capacity to unleash defence-splitting passes make him a constant threat. He thrives in transitional moments but is equally adept at constructing play against packed defences.
Kingsley Michael – Austria Wien, Austria
Michael is a composed central midfielder with clean technique and excellent passing discipline. His ability to recycle possession, retain the ball in pressure zones, and shift play with quick diagonals makes him a valuable asset in structured midfields. He remains one of Nigeria’s overlooked but important creative controllers.
James Igbekeme – Wisła Kraków, Poland
Left-footed, nimble, and inventive, Igbekeme is particularly effective at progressing the ball through congested areas. His angled passes and ball-carrying technique routinely bypass opposition lines, providing attacking teammates with high-value situations in the final third.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Celtic, Scotland
Though often deployed as an attacker, Iheanacho regularly drops into midfield zones to orchestrate play. His vision, delicate weight of pass, and timing of through-balls make him one of Nigeria’s finest creators between the lines. He remains a master of unlocking defences with one moment of ingenuity.
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta, Italy
Lookman’s role at Atalanta often blurs the lines between forward and midfield playmaker. His manipulation of space, quick combinations, and incisive passing make him exceptionally dangerous around packed penalty areas. His creativity thrives in systems that prioritise fluid movement and rotation.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro – Pisa/Inter Milan, Italy
A rising star of Nigerian football, Akinsanmiro possesses first-touch quality and spatial awareness rarely seen in players his age. On loan at Pisa from Inter Milan, he has shown the maturity to dictate play from central zones and the daring to thread passes that dismantle organised defensive shapes.
Obinna Nwobodo – FC Cincinnati, USA
Nwobodo’s press resistance and distribution qualities stand out in Major League Soccer. He is excellent at connecting defensive and attacking phases, retaining the ball under pressure, and finding progressive passing lanes even when tightly marked.
Frank Onyeka – Brentford, England
Onyeka has evolved beyond his reputation as a purely ball-winning midfielder. At Brentford, he has demonstrated improved composure and vertical passing ability. His capacity to break lines with quick, simple forward passes allows attackers to receive the ball in dangerous pockets.
Chima Okoroji – SC Paderborn, Germany
When deployed in midfield, Okoroji offers excellent technical quality. His diagonal switches, calm distribution, and ability to manipulate defensive structures from deeper positions make him a useful creative outlet in ball-dominant teams.
Samson Tijani – Wolfsberger AC, Austria
Tijani is an emerging midfielder whose strengths lie in control, stability, and progressive passing. His understanding of space and methodical ball retention give him the tools to thrive in matches that require patience and tactical discipline.
Tom Dele-Bashiru – Watford, England
A dynamic No. 8 with natural flair, Tom Dele-Bashiru combines drive, energy, and invention. His disguised passes, sharp movement, and ability to operate effectively in compact spaces allow him to influence play in high-pressure moments.
A Generation Built for Modern Football
Collectively, these fifteen players represent a new wave of Nigerian midfield artistry—technically confident, tactically mature, and capable of shaping matches with vision and intelligence. Their diverse styles offer Nigeria and its clubs across Europe a wide array of creative options, whether in deep orchestration roles or advanced playmaking duties.
As global football continues to place a premium on midfielders who can retain possession and unlock disciplined defensive units, Nigeria’s presence on this stage remains strong—and growing.
