Soccer remains one of the most popular sports in the world. In Nigeria, football has a large following and is passionately debated in all nooks and crannies of the country.
A common trend in the development of soccer is the contribution of soccer families to the development of soccer in the country. From the early 1960s to the present, there has been a well-documented contingent of football families plying their trade in various countries around the world, but putting all their resources together to ensure the success of the national team of Africa’s most populous country.
Soccer families have brought glamor to the game in Nigeria, with some even adorning the green and white color of the national flag in their hair. Some of the other positives that come from football families in Nigeria include:
- Greater knowledge of the game.
- Adding value to the game
There has been a meteoric rise in the popularity of soccer, especially when two brothers play for the same national team. The sports analyst helps to increase this awareness as they tend to isolate the soccer brothers before a big game and discuss the possibility of both starting a particular game.
The game of football in Nigeria was given more value when blood brothers represented the country at major events. This helped elevate the game to a different level and increased match ticket sales at match venues. The TV commentator had a horrible time during a World Cup qualifier between Sierra Leone and Nigeria at the Freetown Stadium, when both teams had four sets of brothers, all named Kanu. In Nigeria’s parade at that crucial meeting were Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonnaya Kanu.
Below is a list of the top 20 soccer families to have played for the national team in the last 50 years.
- Patricio Okala, Emmanuel Okala
- Cyril Okosieme, Ndubuisi Okosieme, Nkiru Okosieme:
- Emmanuel Amuneke, Kevin Onyekachi Amuneke, Kingsley Amuneke
- Domingo Oliseh, Azubuike Oliseh
- Albert Yobo, Joseph Yobo
- Dickson Paul Etuhu, Kelvin Etuhu
- Kalu Uche, Ikechukwu Uche
- Celestine Babayaro, Emmanuel Babayaro
- Nwankwo Kanu, Christopher Ogbonnaya Kanu
- Tijani Babangida, Ibrahim Babangida, Haruna Babangida
- Efe Sodje, Sam Sodje, Akpo Sodje, Onome Sodje
- Emma OkochaAustin Okocha
- Clemente Temile, Omonigho Temile, Frank Temile
- Willy Bazuaye, Baudwin Bazuaye, Papa Bazuaye
- Wilson Oruma, Dominic Oruma, Johnson Oruma
- Tarila Okorowanta, Bernard Okorowanta
- Emeka Onyedika, Ifeanyi Onyedika
- Wole Odegbami, According to Odegbami
- Femi Olukanmi, According to Olukanmi
- John Utaka Peter Utaka
The above rating is not based on any particular criteria, and the duo of Ikechukwu Uche and Kalu Uche are the only active brothers currently playing for the Nigerian Super Eagles.