Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has revealed his all-time Super Eagles best XI, choosing a team heavily dominated by players from the modern era of Nigerian football, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 24-year-old shot-stopper recently committed his international future to Nigeria after completing his nationality switch from England. His selection will likely raise eyebrows because several legendary names, including Nwankwo Kanu, were left out of the team.
Okonkwo was born in 2001, five years after Nigeria won Olympic gold in Atlanta and seven years after the Super Eagles lifted the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations title in Tunisia. That timing appears to have shaped many of his choices, with the young goalkeeper favouring stars he either watched growing up or followed closely during the last 15 years.
There was little surprise in his decision to pick Vincent Enyeama in goal. The former Lille goalkeeper remains one of the most respected players in Nigerian football history. Enyeama captained the Super Eagles to AFCON glory in South Africa in 2013 and built a reputation for incredible reflex saves during his time in France, Israel and Nigeria. He is still Africa’s highest-scoring goalkeeper and once went more than 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal in Ligue 1.
In defence, Okonkwo selected Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Elderson Echejile. Aina and Bassey remain key figures in the current Super Eagles squad, while Troost-Ekong only announced his retirement from international football shortly before the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Okonkwo’s Super Eagles midfield and attack choices
The biggest talking point from Okonkwo’s team came in midfield. Despite Nigeria producing legendary midfielders such as Sunday Oliseh, the Wrexham goalkeeper instead paired Wilfred Ndidi with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Ahead of them, he selected Jay-Jay Okocha as his attacking midfielder. That decision was expected, given Okocha’s legendary status both in Nigeria and abroad. The former Bolton Wanderers star dazzled fans with his dribbling, creativity and flair during spells in Germany, Turkey, France and England. Many still consider him the most naturally gifted footballer Nigeria has ever produced.
In attack, Okonkwo surprisingly overlooked icons such as Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini and Daniel Amokachi. Instead, he selected current Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman alongside former Chelsea winger Victor Moses.
Osimhen’s inclusion leaves no one stunned following his remarkable rise over the last few years. The Galatasaray striker has broken goal-scoring records for club and country, while Lookman’s recent performances for both Nigeria and Atletico Madrid have made him one of Africa’s most exciting forwards. Moses, meanwhile, remains remembered for his outstanding role in Nigeria’s victorious AFCON 2013 campaign under the late Stephen Keshi.
Okonkwo himself is only just beginning his own Super Eagles story. The towering goalkeeper, who stands at 1.98 metres, recently received his first senior Nigeria call-up for the Unity Cup and upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal. After impressing with Wrexham in the Championship, many Nigerian fans now see him as a serious long-term option in the national team’s goalkeeping department.
