Bassey, Balogun, and the best Nigerian defenders of 2022

The artwork of defending or making an attempt to cease the opposing staff from scoring has been elevated to be the accountability of the entire staff, from the attackers to the goalkeepers.

Defenders, although, stay the first actors concerned in defending and some Nigerian defenders had been on the high of their sport for probably the most a part of 2022.

Listed here are Soccernet.ng’s high 5 picks of the best Nigerian defenders of the outgoing yr.

5. Bruno Onyemaechi, Boavista

Born in Owerri and raised as a midfielder, Sopuruchukwu Bruno Onyemachi’s evolution right into a disciplined centre-back is unimaginable.

Much more spectacular, is the 23-year-old’s rise from the decrease leagues in Portugal two years in the past to earn a primary Tremendous Eagles call-up in November.

Within the first half of 2022, Onyemaechi was plying his commerce within the Liga Sabseg for Feirense however he has not seemed misplaced one bit within the high flight of Portuguese soccer now that he’s on mortgage at Boavista.

Onyemaechi was on the bench as Portugal defeated Nigeria final month and he might grow to be a daily for the three-time African champions within the new yr.

4. Vivid Osayi-Samuel, Fenerbahce

Osayi-Samuel spent three years in League One with Blackpool and 4 seasons within the Championship with Queens Park Rangers enjoying predominantly as a flying winger.

However the 24-year-old has been deployed mainly as a full-back since becoming a member of Fenerbahce in 2020.

2022 noticed him characteristic for the primary time in European competitions.

Osayi-Samuel carried out creditably effectively within the two appearances he made within the UEFA Champions League, eight appearances within the UEFA Europa League, and two appearances within the UEFA Europa Convention League.

His wonderful performances earned him a spot within the Tremendous Eagles squad for the pleasant towards Portugal in November. And he’s believed to be on the radar of a number of massive European golf equipment – together with Atletico Madrid – forward of the January switch window.

3. Leon Balogun, Queens Park Rangers

Balogun began the yr as a Rangers participant and ended it within the colors of QPR.

The veteran centre-back missed out on the Tremendous Eagles squad to the Africa Cup of Nations in January as a result of damage however he was again to assist Rangers attain the ultimate of the UEFA Europa League.

Rangers misplaced that trophy however Balogun lifted the Scottish Cup in Might so as to add to the Premiership title he received final yr with the Gers.

The Scottish giants let Balogun go on the finish of the season and are already regretting that call.

Rangers’ loss has been QPR’s acquire, although, with the Championship facet placing collectively a run of optimistic outcomes since Balogun joined them. A gorgeous yr it has been for the 34-year-old former Mainz man.

2. Zaidu Sanusi, Porto FC

One defender who is not going to overlook 2022 in a rush is Zaidu Sanusi.

The previous Santa Clara left-back was largely criticised by Porto followers since becoming a member of the membership two years in the past.

However the 25-year-old defender turned perceptions round utterly when he scored the one objective within the 93rd minute of O Clássico (Watch it right here) towards Benfica to seal Porto’s thirtieth league title in Might.

Sanusi’s first objective within the Champions League this season additionally powered Porto to their first win of the group stage (towards Bayer Leverkusen) after two embarrassing defeats to Atletico Madrid and Membership Brugge.

Porto received every of their remaining 4 matches to win Group B.

1. Calvin Bassey

2022 needs to be the most effective yr of Calvin Bassey’s younger profession.

On the flip of the yr, Bassey grew to become the joker within the park for then-Glasgow Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronkhorst who deployed him as a full-back, wing-back, and centre-back.

The teen grew to become unstoppable, enjoying a vital function as Rangers made it to the Europa League closing.

The Glasgow giants misplaced to Eintracht Frankfurt, however Bassey was named the person of the match and he was additionally included within the staff of the event.

His brilliance earned him a transfer away from the Ibrox as Ajax splashed over 20 million euros to safe his signature.

Bassey grew to become not solely the most costly sale Rangers ever made but additionally the most costly Nigerian defender in historical past.

The defender continues to be struggling to adapt to soccer within the Netherlands however he appears to be like on track to be one of many Tremendous Eagles’ most reliable defenders over the subsequent few years.