From Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George’s dazzling partnership at Ajax in the mid-1990s to the present day, Nigerian duos continue to make their mark across European football, with several partnerships currently flourishing in various top leagues, PETER AKINBO writes
AINA, AWONIYI (FOREST)
At Nottingham Forest, Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi have established themselves as key players since joining the club. Aina, 28, joined as a free agent in July 2023, while Awoniyi, 27, arrived in a club-record £17m move from Union Berlin in June 2022.
The duo were initially part of a Nigerian trio at the City Ground alongside Emmanuel Dennis, who revealed in a 2023 club interview that he frequently visited Awoniyi’s home, before his January loan move to Blackburn Rovers.
The duo are in an unprecedented charge for Champions League football currently sitting third in the Premier League.
IWOBI, BASSEY (FULHAM)
Fulham’s Nigerian connection features Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, the only duo who are regular starters for both club and country. Iwobi, 28, joined from Everton last September, while Bassey, 25, arrived in a €21m move from Ajax in July.
The pair have formed a close friendship off the pitch, often arriving at training together, and their partnership on the field has helped Fulham push for European qualification this season.
NDIDI, OKOLI (LEICESTER)
Leicester City’s Nigerian connection features Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, 28, alongside Italian-Nigerian defender Caleb Okoli, 23.
Ndidi previously formed a successful partnership with Kelechi Iheanacho, winning the FA Cup, Community Shield and Championship together before the striker’s move to Sevilla last summer.
Okoli, born in Italy to Nigerian parents, has represented Italy at youth level and received senior call-ups but remains uncapped, leaving him eligible for Nigeria.
BONIFACE, TELLA (LEVERKUSEN)
Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella have made history as the only Nigerian duo to win all three domestic trophies in Germany. The pair helped Die Werkself secure the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, and DFL Supercup.
In their Supercup triumph, Boniface, 24, opened the scoring before being substituted due to injury, while Tella, 25, played a crucial role in the penalty shootout victory over Stuttgart.
AKPOGUMA, ORBAN (HOFFENHEIM)
At Hoffenheim, Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma, 29, captains the side and has been joined by Gift Orban, 22, who arrived in January.
Despite being born in Togo, Orban has chosen to represent Nigeria and has already scored twice in five appearances in the Bundesliga, including a consolation goal against champions Leverkusen.
BALOGUN, DESSERS (RANGERS)
Rangers’ Nigerian partnership features veteran defender Leon Balogun, 36, and striker Cyriel Dessers, 30. Recently, both players scored in a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen, with Balogun also providing an assist for Dessers.
Balogun has been particularly supportive of Dessers, who despite scoring 17 goals this season, has struggled to earn regular call-ups to the national team, making just six appearances in friendlies.
EJUKE, ADAMS (SEVILLA)
Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams formed Sevilla’s Nigerian connection after Adams’ €5.5m move from Montpellier. Ejuke played a key role in convincing Adams to join, but their partnership has been cut short by Adams’ long-term thigh injury that could sideline him for up to 12 months.
MONDAY, RINSOLA (TENERIFE)
In women’s football, Super Falcons duo Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide have led Costa Adeje Tenerife to sixth place in Spain’s Liga F. Monday has netted 10 league goals, while Babajide’s penalty conversion rate has been crucial to their success.
Manager Eder Maestre has praised their impact, highlighting the “soul and heart” they bring to the team.
OSHO, ONAIWU (AUXERRE)
Newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Auxerre feature England-born Gabriel Osho, who represents Nigeria, and Ado Onaiwu, born to a Japanese mother and Nigerian father.
While Osho, 25, plays for the Eagles, Onaiwu has represented Japan internationally but hasn’t featured for the Samurai Blue since 2021.
These partnerships across Europe’s top leagues demonstrate not only the quality of Nigerian players but also their ability to form effective combinations that benefit their clubs, continuing the legacy established by pioneers like Kanu and Finidi.
