Nigerian Team of the Year 2022 featuring Spurs loanee, Southampton, Everton, Atalanta stars 

The year 2022 is now in the past. Several sporting events in general and particularly football tournaments were held in the year.

 

Nigerian players were not left out in most of these but the were not part of the biggest football tournament of the year, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Nigerian players had so many highs and lows in the year

Allnigeriasoccer.com here presents the eleven players that performed excellently in their positions and make up our Team of the Year. 

 

GK: Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus) 

 

Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was part of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon but it was Maduka Okoye that was the first choice keeper at the tournament. 

 

Okoye's gaffe in the round of 16 defeat to Tunisia led to Nigeria's elimination. 

 

Okoye received death threats by the fickle Nigerian fans on social media and there were reports that he might have decided to retire from international football. 

 

Uzoho 'stepped forward' and took the mantle but he too didn't cover himself in glory by conceding the goal that ultimately denied the team a place in Qatar 2022.

 

But the Omonia Nicosia keeper improved in the second half of the year with outstanding performances for his club. 

 

Uzoho's performances are worthy of receiving the attention of clubs across Europe looking for goalkeeper reinforcements in the January transfer window. 

 

RB: Ola Aina (Torino, Italy) 
 

The Torino fullback was in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad in Cameroon and had a decent group stage performance. 

 

However, he was one of the defenders that were bereft of positional awareness leading to the goal scored by Youssef Msakni that led to Nigeria's defeat to Tunisia in the round of 16. 

 

LB: Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur, on loan to Udinese)

 

Italy U21 international and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Destiny Udogie qualifies to play for Nigeria through his parents and has been turning heads with his performances in the Serie A. 

 

Tottenham Hotspur have an agreement  to bring the left back to north London next season. 

 

Udogie has started in 11 league games, chalking up 964 minutes of action. 

He has scored twice in the topflight and has been yellow-carded four times. 

CB: Caleb Okoli (Atalanta, Italy)

 

The Atalanta centreback  who is an Italy U21 international is on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation to play for the Super Eagles.

 

Okoli has played 13 Serie A matches for the club this season and has been yellow-carded tWo times. 

 

The defender has started in nine of those games and is expected to be in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Spezia as the Serie A returns after the 2022 World Cup. 

 

The 21-year-old takes up one of the two centre-back spots ahead of Super Eagles vice captain, William Troost-Ekong who himself has also played 13 league games in the English Championship in the current season. 

 

CB: Chidozie Awaziem (Hajduk Split, Croatia) 

 

Chidozie Awaziem has played 14 Croatian topflight games this season since his move to Hajduk Split. He was also in action in four matches in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. 

 
Awaziem is a defender whose versatility makes him able to play across the defensive lines. He has also come up with his fair share of goals and has chipped in four so far. 

 

CM: Joseph Aribo (Southampton, England) 

 

Joe Aribo came into most Nigeria Football fans' consciousness in the international friendly against Ukraine a few year ago. 

 

The midfielder has not exactly been the ideal number 10 Nigerians are looking for since the days of Austin Okocha, Etim Esin or even Wilson Oruma, but his industry is something worthy of note. 

 

CM: Ebere Eze (Crystal Palace, England) 

 

Eberechi Eze has been magnificent for Crystal Palace this season and is one of the top players at the club. 

 

The former England youth international is on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation to play for the Super Eagles. 

 

Changing his allegiance to play for the country of his heritage could be the best decision Eze has to make in his international career. 

 

Twice Eze had been unfortunate to play for England at two major tournaments. 

 

The creative midfielder has played 16 league games so far this season. 

 

He scored his third league goal over the weekend in the Eagles' 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium. 

 

CM: Alex Iwobi (Everton, England) 

When Alex Iwobi played at Arsenal, he was considered at best average by a lot of his critics. 

 

Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha's nephew has however taken his game a notch higher at Everton and could be playing in a bigger team if he continues with his current form. 

 

Iwobi has directly participated in seven goals  in all competitions this season.

 

LW : Moses Simon (Nantes, France) 

 

Nantes forward Moses Simon was Nigeria's best player at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon without questions despite scoring just one goal in the tournament. 

 

He was an important player for the Ligue 1 side this past year and could well be under the radar of some clubs in the January transfer window. 

 

RW : Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy) 

Ademola Lookman makes our Nigerian Team of the Year after a banner 2022 first with Leicester City and then Serie A side, Atalanta. 

The nippy forward made his Nigeria debut in the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs against Ghana. 

Lookman has scored seven goals at Atalanta this season in 15 league appearances.

 

Striker : Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy) 

 

Sorely missed by the Nigeria national team at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon as his Serie A side Napoli vehemently refused to release him after suffering a face fracture prior to the tournament. 

 

Osimhen who is the leading Nigerian goalscorer in the history of the Serie A and a place above Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo has scored nine League goals in 11 games this season. 

He has started in 10 of those games. 

 

 

Izuchukwu Okosi

 

 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com