Top 5 players in the Nigeria Professional Football League

Rafiu Ishaq Kayode 

Club: River United 

Age: 21

Position: Striker

Nationality: Nigerian

The youngster has been a revelation in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season with his blistering form. 

Kayode, 20, is statistically great for someone of his age, having scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists for Rivers United in the Nigerian top-flight this season.

Kayode has scored with both feet this season, showing his goal-scoring versatility from headers and free-kicks.

He has been awarded for his impressive form in a national team call-up for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly matches against Mexico and Ecuador in June. 

The highly-rated talent has received numerous offers from European clubs and top African clubs.

Victor Chukwuma Mbaoma 

Club:  Enyimba FC

Age: 25

Position: Forward 

Nationality: Nigerian

The 25-year-old is a proven forward for Enyimba FC in the Nigerian top-flight and also in continental competitions. 

He is currently the second-highest scorer in the Nigerian league with 12 goals in 25 matches.

Mbaoma’s consistency makes him one of the important players for his club in the Nigerian Professional Football League and in the Africa inter-club competitions. 

He has 6 goals in 10 appearances in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup from the 2020/2021 campaign. 

Mbaoma has been invited to Nigeria national team’s two international friendly matches against Mexico and Ecuador and the AFCON 2023 Qualifications next month.

Ibrahim Buhari 

Club:  Plateau United

Age: 20 

Position: Centre-back

Nationality: Nigerian 

Buhari is a scoring defender, who has six goals to his name so far in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season with five of them being crucial last-minute goals that have given Plateau United the maximum points.

Beyond his goal-scoring form, the towering center-back is a pillar in defense for his interceptions, blocks, ball recoveries, and aerial abilities. 

Buhari reads the game magnificently and, besides being a physical match for any opponent, shows the great technique in dispossessing opponents.

His ability to pre-empt the pattern of play is aesthetically pleasing and hugely tipped to take African football by storm. 

His recent call-up to the Nigeria national team for upcoming international games in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers and friendlies has come as no surprise following his impressive form this term.

Yusuf Abdulazeez 

Club: Gombee United

Age: 20

Position: Left Winger 

Nationality: Nigerian

The 20-year-old Gombe United has been a big revelation in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League season with his devastating form and displays. 

Abdulazeez has scored 11 goals and has set up another one in 26 appearances which makes him the 3rd highest scorer in the Nigerian top division this campaign. 

The highly-rated youngster is a delightful talent whose pace, dribbling skills, and take-on make him a threat to any opponent he has faced.

He is balanced on the ball, possesses lightning-quick acceleration, and is a tricky proposition for opposing defenders.

The Nigerian striker is aggressive, fiercely determined, and expeditious in winning back the ball when he is not zipping past opposing players and launching ambitious shots. 

Gombe is yet to lose any game that Abdulazeez has scored in the second round of the league.

He is being chased by several clubs abroad after only halfway through his debut season in the top flight. 

Godwin Obaje 

Club: Abia Warriors FC

Age: 25

Position: Forward 

Nationality: Nigerian

The Abia Warriors FC experienced striker has scored over 50 career goals in the Nigerian league having played for Wikki Tourists, Ifeanyi Ubah, and Plateau United before moving to Abia.

He was the league’s top scorer for the 2016 season where he rattled in18 goals for the Tourists.

This season, however, he has brought another facet of his play to the fore with his intelligent linking of play with his teammates. 

He is leading the assist charts with six to his name and has also bagged 7 goals in the process.

Obaje, 25, has had stints at Slovakian club AS Trencin and Tunisian outfit JS Kairouan.

The five players have received numerous offers from European and top African clubs for their consistent performances.