By Saheed Afolabi
Former England defender, Rio Ferdinand, has praised the remarkable impact that Nigerian football legends Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and Sunday Oliseh had on black players, both in Europe and around the world.
The trio, who enjoyed successful careers in European football spanning over a decade, became iconic figures, not just for their individual skills, but for their influence on a generation of black footballers.
Ferdinand, who himself played at the highest level in the Premier League, spoke passionately about how Okocha, in particular, inspired many young players with his unique style of play.
“Okocha’s playing style was something special,” Ferdinand shared. “We used to watch Jay Jay Okocha’s videos, and everyone wanted to play like him. It was fantastic to see him in the Premier League after making his name with Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG.”
Ferdinand stressed the importance of this trio and their role in shaping the representation and recognition of black players in European football.
“Nigerian players of that era—Okocha, Oliseh, and Kanu—had a huge influence on black players worldwide,” he added.
The praise from Ferdinand reflects the legacy of these Super Eagles icons, who not only enjoyed successful club careers but also served as beacons of inspiration for aspiring black players, breaking barriers and carving out a legacy that continues to inspire the next generation of footballers across the globe.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
