The German Bundesliga stands as one of Europe’s most prestigious football leagues, renowned for its high-octane action, passionate fan base, and vibrant atmosphere. But beyond the thrilling matches and intense rivalries, the Bundesliga serves as a melting pot of football talent from around the globe, attracting players from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities.
Over the years, Nigerian footballers have made significant contributions to the German Bundesliga, showcasing their talent, skill, and determination on the pitch. From prolific goal-scorers to midfield maestros, these players have left an indelible mark on one of Europe’s top football leagues.
Here’s a look at some of the Nigerian football stars who have graced the Bundesliga:
1. Austin Jay-Jay Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha was the first Nigerian to play in the German Bundesliga. Between 1990 and 1996, the attacking midfielder played for Borussia Neunkirchen (1990) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1992), where he scored one of the best goals in the Bundesliga against Oliver Kahn.
In a match against Karlsruhe in August 1993, the attacking midfielder received the ball on a breakaway and proceeded to toy with the legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The Nigerian maestro turned the current Bayern CEO inside and out and back again, using a series of feints that took out a couple of defenders, too. That breathtaking effort was voted Germany’s goal of the year for 1993, and it was one of 18 Okocha got – as well as 13 assists – in 90 appearances for Eintracht.
2. Jonathan Akpoborie
By the time Jay-Jay Okocha became a name in Germany, Akpoborie was in the lower leagues, having played for teams such as Saarbrücken, Carl Zeiss Jena, and Stuttgarter Kickers, among others.
However, in the 1995/96 season, Akpoborie caught the eyes of top-flight side Hansa Rostock after nine goals in 18 Bundesliga 2 appearances for Waldhof Mannheim early in the season. Hansa Rostock later signed him in January 1996.
The Nigerian football player scored six goals and provided two assists in his first 16 league games for Hansa. He even scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win against Frankfurt in April 1996. This helped his team finish in sixth place that season. Akpoborie was a hard-working centre forward with immense power. In the following season, he scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 31 Bundesliga games. His excellent performance earned him a transfer to Stuttgart in the summer of 1997.
Akpoborie had a successful football career in Germany, scoring 60 goals in 144 Bundesliga appearances. He played for VfB Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, scoring 21 goals in 58 and 19 in 39 games, respectively. Although he ended his career playing for Saarbrücken in Bundesliga 2, he remains Nigeria’s highest scorer and appearance-maker in the Bundesliga.
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3. Victor Agali
After being impressed with the performance of a Nigerian striker, Hansa moved to sign Agali a year later following Akpoborie’s departure. Agali, who was just 20 years old at that time and hailing from Okpanam, made his debut in the top flight, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 22 outings during his first season.
Standing at a towering 6’4″, he was the perfect target man who could hold the ball effectively and bring his teammates into play. He scored 11 more goals in the next two seasons, making 44 appearances. Additionally, he scored two goals on his debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Sudan in January 2001.
Schalke was impressed with his performance and signed him up that summer. He scored 14 goals in 54 Bundesliga games over the next three seasons, after which he moved to Nice in France in the summer of 2004. Before his departure, he helped Nigeria earn a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier that year.
After Akpoborie, he is the second-highest Nigerian Bundesliga appearance maker with 143 and the second-highest scorer with 32.
4. Sunday Oliseh
Oliseh had a successful career in Germany over several years. In 1995, he joined Cologne as a 21-year-old holding midfielder, featuring in 24 games and helping his team finish 12th in his first season.
Following his gold medal win at the 1996 Olympic Games, where he played alongside Okocha, Oliseh became a regular in the Cologne team, scoring four goals and providing four assists from 30 appearances.
His performances caught the attention of various major European clubs, but after spending three years at Ajax and Juventus, Oliseh returned to Germany with Dortmund in 2000. Oliseh spent four years at Dortmund, but his final year was on loan at Bochum.
5. Obafemi “Obagoal” Martins
Martins rose to fame as a young player with Inter Milan in the 2002/03 season. He was known for his explosive pace, muscular physique, and accurate finishing, making him one of the most promising talents in the game.
After playing for Newcastle United in England, he joined Wolfsburg in the summer of 2009. Martins was brought in to add competition for places with Edin Dzeko and Grafite, who had helped the Wolves win the Bundesliga title just a few weeks earlier.
Martins instantly impacted his debut, coming off the bench to score and seal a 3-1 victory in Cologne. He scored again the following week in Hamburg’s 4-2 defeat. By the end of October 2009, he had scored five goals in his first nine league appearances.
Unfortunately, Martins struggled with injuries after that and found it hard to regain his rhythm. He only scored once more that season before leaving for Rubin Kazan in Russia in the summer of 2010. Despite his short time in Germany, Martins is fondly remembered at the Volkswagen Arena, especially for his somersault celebrations. He is also considered one of the most naturally gifted players ever to play for the club.
6. Anthony Ujah
Ujah has spent almost ten years in Germany. After impressing at Norwegian club Lilleström, he signed with Mainz in 2011. He is a hard-working centre-forward who excels at some of the game’s more unglamorous aspects, such as holding the ball up, pressing defenders, and making runs to open space.
Ujah is also a handy goal scorer, as evidenced by the number of Bundesliga clubs that have signed him. After scoring two goals in 12 games for Mainz in his debut season, the Ugbokolo native began to show his true colours in 2014/15, hitting ten goals in 32 appearances for Cologne and then 11 in 32 the following year for Bremen.
He became a full Nigeria international after earning his first cap in 2013. However, he hasn’t played for his country since making the last of seven appearances in a friendly against Niger in September 2015.
After spending two years in China, Ujah returned to the Bundesliga with Mainz in 2018 and then switched to Union Berlin a year later. Although he is not a first-choice forward, mainly due to Awoniyi’s emergence, he scored three times in 24 games in 2019/20. He is the third-highest-scoring Nigerian in Bundesliga history with 30 goals.
7. Victor Osimhen
In 2017, Osimhen joined the Wolves, following in the footsteps of Akpoburi and Martins. He was only 18 years old then, and he initially struggled to adapt to his new surroundings and the stark contrast to his homeland.
During his two seasons at the Wolves, Osimhen failed to hit the target in 14 Bundesliga appearances. This could be attributed to the impressive form of Wout Weghorst, which did not do him any favors in that regard. However, his time in Germany undoubtedly laid the foundations for the striker to adapt to the rigours of elite-level football.
8. Leon Balogun
Born in Berlin to a Yoruba father, Balogun got his first taste of Bundesliga football with Hannover in April 2009. He had subsequent spells at Bremen, Düsseldorf and Darmstadt and earned his maiden cap for Nigeria in a friendly against Mexico in March 2014.
The player is a centre-back who played for different football clubs during various periods. He played for Hannover from 2008 to 2010, Bremen from 2010 to 2012, Düsseldorf from 2012 to 2014, and Mainz from 2015 to 2018.
It was only at Mainz that the elegant centre-back established himself as a top-flight defender, though. Between 2015 and 2018, he made 52 appearances across three seasons. Now 33, Balogun has 43 caps for the Super Eagles.
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9. Pascal Ojigwe
Ojigwe may not be one of the most famous players on this list, but he deserves his place.
He was born in Aba and moved to Germany as a teenager, where he signed for Kaiserslautern in 1995. It took him a while to adjust to the German game, but he made his Bundesliga debut in 1997/98 against 1860 Munich. Altogether, he made 42 top-flight appearances.
Ojigwe was a tough and determined player who consistently pressured the opposition. He transferred to Leverkusen in the summer of 2000 and was part of the squad that earned three runners-up medals that season after losing the DFB and UEFA Champions League finals and finishing second in the league.
Ojigwe played for the Super Eagles and earned seven international caps. He helped the team finish third at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. He retired from professional football in 2007 at the age of 31.
10. Taiwo Awoniyi
After joining Liverpool at just 17 in 2015, Awoniyi was sent out on loan to seven clubs, including Mainz and Union Berlin, before moving permanently to the latter in the summer of 2021.
If the striker had always hinted at his finishing ability, he unquestionably confirmed it in the 2021/22 season, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in the Bundesliga throughout the campaign (14 overall) and helping the side climb as high as fourth in the table.”He received assistance from Anthony Ujah, who guided him about the coach’s expectations and other relevant things. This support was crucial in helping him settle into the team and perform well.”
Awoniyi was the main man for Union, especially following the departure of Max Kruse. He also led the charge for Nigeria and was a starting member of the team that reached the last 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Currently at Nottingham Forest in the EPL, he has plenty more chapters to pen in his burgeoning career.