Allnigeriasoccer.com takes a look at the top five youngest Nigerian-born players to debut in the English Premier League.
5) Victor Moses (Chelsea) : The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner replaced Hugo Rodallega in the 83rd minute as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland shared the spoils on February 6, 2010. The versatile winger was aged 19 years, 1 month and 25 days.
He transferred to Chelsea in the summer of 2012 and was a key member of the squad that won the Premier League title in the 2016-2017 season.
4) Celestine Babayaro (Retired) : The Atlanta 1996 gold medalist was the most expensive teenager signed by Chelsea when he joined the club in 1997 from Anderlecht for a fee of £2.25 million, and spent eight years in London before transferring to Newcastle United.
Babayaro made his Premier League bow for the Blues in a 1-0 win against Leicester City on October 18, 1997 aged
19 years, 1 month and 19 days, the only player on the list to go the distance in his maiden appearance in the top-flight.
19 years, 1 month and 19 days, the only player on the list to go the distance in his maiden appearance in the top-flight.
3) Shola Ameobi (Retired) : On September 9, 2000, Zaria-born Ameobi had the honour of being the youngest Nigerian player to feature in the Premier League when he played the last twenty minutes for Newcastle United in a goalless draw with Chelsea, a record that lasted six years before it was broken. He was 18 years, 10 months and 28 days.
2) Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) : The 2013 U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner was 35 days shy of his 19th birthday when he was handed his Premier League debut by Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City beat Odion Ighalo's Watford 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium. He replaced Raheem Sterling a minute from time.
1) Victor Anichebe (Unattached) : 17 years, 11 months and 30 days were behind him when he made his debut in the Premier League for Everton, coming on to replace James McFadden in the 84th minute, against Birmingham City on April 22, 2006.
Anichebe later played for West Brom and Sunderland after leaving the Toffees in 2013.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : lcfc.com
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