Before 1990, the Super Eagles comprised mainly of home-based Super Eagles players, with few eventually playing in foreign leagues.
Playing in foreign leagues was not a big deal for Nigerian players until 1985 when Stephen Keshi and Henry Nwosu left for Ivory Coast following their issues with the football federation.
With the deterioration of the NPFL and the rise of the status and stature of Nigerian players outside the country, the Nigerian national team has had to rely less on home-based Super Eagles players.
In recent years, there has been a clamour for the inclusion of home-based players into the national team, but it has yielded little results.
With the appointment of Finidi George, a former Super Eagles player, as the head coach of the national team, the calls were heightened, leading to the invitation of Sodiq Ismail to the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Benin Republic and South Africa.
We give you the top Super Eagles players who debuted as home-based players in the last 34 years.
Top Super Eagles players who debuted as home-based
Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars)
Not many people remember Godfrey Oboabona, but the defender was a rock in defence for the Super Eagles when he played.
Oboabona was one of the top home-based Super Eagles players, and he debuted for the national team in 2012.
He was invited to the national team in 2012 while playing for Sunshine Stars and played for another year before joining Çaykur Rizespor, Turkey, in 2013.
Oboabona was part of the Super Eagles squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the all-conquering AFCON 2013 side.
He also featured for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The defender made 39 appearances for the Super Eagles between 2012 and 2016, scoring one goal.
Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves)
Like Oboabona, Sunday Mba debuted for the Super Eagles in 2012. Mba showed plenty of promise at the start of his international career, but choices ensured it didn’t quite blossom.
The late Stephen Keshi gave him his break, and he was part of the 2010 B team that won the WAFU Nations Cup.
Mba was part of the Super Eagles team that won the 2013 AFCON and contributed in no small measure to the victory. He scored the winning goal as Nigeria beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the quarter-final and in the final, where the Super Eagles defeated the Stallions of Burkina Faso 1-0.
Benedict Iroha (Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
In 1990, when Clemens Westerhof was having problems with his foreign-based players, he decided to keep faith in a squad of mainly home-based Super Eagles players.
Ben Iroha was one of the players Westerhof included in the squad for the 1990 AFCON, and he delivered, cementing his position as the team’s left-back for many years.
Originally a midfielder before being converted to a left-back by Westerhof, Iroha had a largely unsuccessful European sojourn.
Iroha featured for Nigeria at AFCON 1990, where the Super Eagles finished runners-up behind Algeria. He won bronze at AFCON 1992 and won the tournament in 1994. Iroha also played his part at the FIFA World Cup in 1994 and 1998.
Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars)
Ahmed Musa is the longest-serving Super Eagles player with 110 caps, but nobody remembers that he started his international career as a home-based player.
Ahmed Musa helped Nigeria win the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup, where he scored a goal against Benin. The performance of the Kano Pillars winger led Super Eagles coach Lars Lagerbäck to invite him to the Super Eagles In April 2010.
Ahmed Musa did not debut for the Super Eagles until August 2010 in an AFCON 2012 qualification match against Madagascar. He came on as a substitute for John Obi Mikel in the 2-0 win.
Following his Super Eagles debut, he consummated his contract with VVV Venlo, which he had signed earlier in the year but could not join until he clocked 18.
Amed Musa is the only Super Eagles player to score two World Cup goals in a single match.
Taye Taiwo (Lobi Stars)
Taye Taiwo is a notable figure in Nigerian football. The left-footed bomber started his professional career with Gabros FC.
What many remember the left-back for is his time with the Flying Eagles (Nigeria’s U20 side). Still, Taiwo had already made his senior debut before playing in the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005.
In the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, Taiwo helped the Flying Eagles reach the final, but they lost to a Messi-inspired Argentina 2-1. He finished the tournament as the third-best player behind John Obi Mikel and Lionel Messi.
However, Taiwo became a Super Eagles player when he featured in a 2-1 loss to South Africa on 17 November 2004. At the time of his debut, he was a Lobi Stars player.
The career of the former Marseille left-back faded after he joined AC Milan.
Uche Okechukwu (Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
Uche Okechukwu was known as the gentle giant following his massive frame and calm mien. He was a solid defender who played for eight years in the national team.
Thanks to foreign-based stars like the late Stephen Keshi, who missed the tournament, allowing Westerhof to draft the Iwuanyanwu Nationale defender into the team.
Okechukwu debuted for the Super Eagles at AFCON 1990, where the team lost to Algeria 1-0 in the final.
Despite the return of the foreign-based regulars, none could upstage him from his position until he retired from the Super Eagles. He was one of the foremost Super Eagles players during his time.
Daniel Amokachi (Ranchers Bees)
Clemens Westerhof blooded plenty of home-based players in the Super Eagles. For many years, they became the fulcrum of the team.
Daniel Amokachi was one of Westerhof’s discoveries. He drafted the then 18-year-old forward to partner with Rashidi Yekini at the 1990 AFCON.
Amokachi was already causing waves in the local league with Ranchers Bees and caught the eye of the Dutch coach.
He featured for the Super Eagles in several tournaments, including winning the 1994 AFCON and leading Nigeria to its first-ever round of 16 finish at the World Cup in 1994.
Amokachi made 44 appearances for the Super Eagles and scored 13 goals.
Finidi George (Sharks)
Finidi George is remembered as the home-based player who made the best debut for the Super Eagles.
In 1991, Finidi debuted for Nigeria in an AFCON qualifying game against Burkina Faso in Lagos. With the match thinly balanced – Nigeria leading 2-1, Westerhof introduced Finidi in the second half, and the winger created four assists and scored a goal to help Nigeria win 7-1.
At the time of his debut, he was on the payroll of Sharks of Port Harcourt. Finidi became one of the Super Eagles players that was highly ranked worldwide.
He played several tournaments for the Super Eagles and was part of the 1994 AFCON winning side. He also scored the goal that qualified Nigeria for its first FIFA World Cup in 1994 – a 1-1 draw against Algeria.
Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba)
Perhaps the only goalkeeper who can be mentioned in the same breath as Vincent Enyeama is former Super Eagles goal tender Peter Rufai.
Enyeama has many laurels and is one of history's foremost Super Eagles players. He started his football career with Ibom Stars before joining Enyimba, where he won two CAF Champions League titles.
Enyeama debuted for the Super Eagles in May 2002 against Kenya. Festus Onigbinde felt he had seen enough of the goalkeeper that he took him to the FIFA World Cup in 2002.
Enyeama played one game against England, where he kept a clean sheet, making fantastic saves in the match.
The former Enyimba goalminder was once the most capped Super Eagles player (101) until Ahmed Musa broke the record in 2021. He also came close to beating the Ligue 1 record of minutes without conceding held by ex-Bordelais Gaëtan Huard (1,176 minutes).
Enyeama is second on the chart with 1,072 minutes. He is regarded as the greatest goalkeeper of his generation.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 months ago
