MTNFootball.com looks at the Nigerian stars who are now flocking into
Turkey after their compatriots used the Belgian league to launch their careers
in Europe in the 80s.
The first notable Nigeria player to move to Turkey was ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche
Okechukwu, when he joined Fenerbahce in 1993, before Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha
and Daniel Amokachi followed suit in 1996, when they joined Fenerbahce and
Besiktas respectively.
JOSEPH YOBO: Super Eagles captain lead the pack in Turkey where he play for
Fenerbahce. Yobo has become an important member of the Turkish giant. His
loan deal from Everton was made permanent last summer and he has since won the
Turkey league and cup.
PROMISE ISAAC: The Beijing 2008 Dream Team captain has been in Turkey since
2005. The Antalyaspor striker has also played for Genclerbirligi,Trabzonspor
and Manisaspor, all in Turkey.
AKEEM AGBETU: Former Nigeria U20 striker is now at his sixth Turkish club since 2009. The
Tavsanli Linyitspor striker has played for Sivasspor, Samsunspor, Kocealispor
and Boluspor.
NDUKA OZOKWOR: Ex-Nigeria youth international has settled down in Turkey
where he plays for Mersin Idmanyurdi after a move to French club Rennes dod not
work out. The attacking midfielder, who once featured for Boluspor, has
been in Turkey since 2010.
MICHAEL ENERAMO: The big striker has proved himself in
Turkey since he arrived Turkey in 2011 from Tunisian club Esperance.
Ex-Sivasspor forward has scored 21 goals from 52 games he has
played for Sivasspor since arrival. He was the team's leading scorer in the
past season with 12 league goals and 5 in the cup.
He has now signed for a bigger Turkish club Besiktas ahead of new
season.
EKIGHO EHIOSUN: ‘The Iron Man’, as the ex-Warri Wolves striker is called,
was a revelation for Samsunspor in his first season where he scored 10
goals.
Last season, he joined Genclerbirligi but injury has stalled his
progress, but he is back now and hopes for better performance and some luck in
the coming season.
KALU UCHE: Nigeria international forward made an instant impact at Istanbul club
Kasimpasa as he emerged the second top scorer in the Turkey Super Ligi last
season with 19 goals.
RAHEEM LAWAL: He is another Nigeria star who settled down in Turkey with
Mersin Idmuyurdu after a move from lower league Adana Demirspor.
The midfielder was outstanding for the relegated side and he is now on
radar of teams in the Turkish top flight and he is most likely not to go down
with his demoted club.
CHIKELUBA OFOEDU: Ex-Enugu Rangers scored a total of nine
goals in all competitions for 1461 Trabzon on a season-long loan deal. The
young striker is on the verge of joining another Turkey team Kasiyaka, who
are keen to have him.
UCHE KALU: The Enyimba striker is the toast of Rizespor's fans as
his goals have propelled Rizespor to the summit of the league table.
Though a nagging knee injury halted his fine run last season, he still finished
as the leading scorer in Turkish lower division with nine goals to his credit.
He has signed a new four-year deal with the club after he passed a
medical recently.
CHIBUZOR NWOGBO: Relatively unknown Nigerian striker
made his name while playing in South Africa National Football division
with University of Pretoria where his goals contributed to their promotion
to the elite league. He stars for Adanaspor, who he joined last summer.
GIDEON SANI: He is a player of Super Lig side Akhirsarspor and he is now
loaned to Turkish second division side, Tavsanli Linyitspor. He started
with Izmirspor before he was snapped up by the top division team Akhisar
following his displays in the lower league.
SIMON ZENKE: Last season, he returned to Turkey from French club Nancy. He
previously featured Samsunspor, where he scored 16 goals to win them promotion
to elite division. He is now with Istanbul BB.
TAYE TAIWO: Nigeria left back Taye Taiwo joined the growing list of Nigeria players
in Turkey after he signed a three-year deal with Bursaspor. The former
Olympique Marseille, QPR, Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan is expected to hit it big in
Turkey considering his experience.
CHIBUZOR MADU: Rangers defender Madu joined Karharamamaspor, a second division
team this summer.
RAZAQ ADEGBITE: Ex-Rangers forward has joined the list of Nigeria players in
Turkey after he signed a two-year deal with Karharamamaspor.
And in the coming weeks, more stars like Mikel Obi, Ikechukwu Uche,
Jude Aneke and Nigeria U20 star Umar Aminu could further swell
the growing contingent of Nigerians in Turkey.
