Top Ten Most Influential Nigerian Players In 2017 (10-7) : Mikel, Martins, Obi & Simon

The fast-winding year had been a great one for most Nigerians who proved sensational enough in pulling off different grades of successes with the national team and their respective clubs to a quantum point in terms of performance evaluation.

With this piece, allnigeriasoccer.com would thus, run down the top ten most influential Nigerian players for the year 2017, the list detailing from below.

(10) Joel Obi — With glimpses of his eye-catching performances for Torino this season, there arose a wide outcry for the former Inter Milan playmaker to be called back to the national team fold and it is a no-brainer why.

The 26-year old midfielder who has two assists and two goals to go with in just 10 league appearances is one of the most creative players for The Maroons who sit tenth on the league table and it would be interesting to see him reprise that with the Super Eagles yet again.

(9) Obafemi Martins —Martins had an undoubtedly prolific season with Shanghai Shenhua, scoring seven goals in 1159 minutes from 13 Chinese Super League matches, though the highlight of his effervescence would come in the Chinese FA Cup where he inspired the Shanghai outfit to the title, scoring in both legs of the decider over Shanghai SIPG.

Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr had yet reiterated that the national team's door is still open to the 33-year old who last donned the green and white back in 2015, and it is little wonder why he continues to get a look-in.

(8) Moses Simon — The 22-year old attacker who is always full of tricks and feints was that good as Nigeria thumped every of their group opponents enroute to Russia.

Back in Belgium, the KAA Gent starlet is far from resting on his laurels, notching five goals and two assists for The Buffaloes who sit fifth on the Belgian First Division with European competition clearly in view.

Fast, fleet footed with a keen eye for goal, Simon is perhaps, his team's dependable trickster whenever he is in action.

(7) John Obi Mikel — The inspirational figure at the heart of this very successful Super Eagles side.

The Tianjin Teda man might no longer be a flashy No 10 but his ability to control proceedings from deep with a calm efficiency and astute reading of the game which is almost peerless.

Deployed in a free and advanced role for Nigeria during the qualification series, the Super Eagles's skipper has recently added goals to his toolkit, as he showed against Algeria and Cameroon.

But for his timely decisive contributions from midfield for his Chinese side, Teda Tigers might have been facing up
to relegation.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : instagram.com/joelobi22