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It is that time of the year again as PulseSports30 returns to celebrate the best Nigerian players of the 2023/2024 season
PulseSports30 is an annual football ranking that celebrates the 30 best-performing Nigerian footballers from across the globe.
PulseSports30 makes a return for a third year, recognising the 30 best-performing Nigerian footballers from the 2023/2024 football season.
As a non-discriminatory annual ranking, PulseSports30 considers footballers of Nigerian heritage who performed excellently either in Africa, Asia, Europe, North/South America, or Oceania.
In the last five days, we have revealed a batch of five players each day that made our list.
We now round up this year's ranking by revealing the top five.
5. Alex Iwobi
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This season, Alex Iwobi has been nothing short of remarkable, both in the AFCON and with his club, Fulham.
The former Arsenal man was an important player for Fulham despite the criticism directed at the midfielder for his performance for Nigeria at AFCON 2023. Iwobi played every game for Nigeria at AFCON 2023, without scoring or recording any assist - many have blamed Peseiro’s tactics for this outcome.
The midfielder, who is ranked 5th on the PulseSports30 list, played a total of 32 games for Fulham, averaging 25.8 (82%) accuracy per game. Iwobi scored six goals, and provided two assists across all competitions.
4. William Troost-Ekong
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William Troost-Ekong considered calling time on his Super Eagles career, having not featured in a competitive match for the Super Eagles since an AFCON qualifying match against Sierra Leone in June 2022.
However, his redemption arc at the Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire was admirable, reinstated at the heart of the defence and impressive in the nation’s altered structure. The PAOK defender covered less space in the three-player backline that swiftly became five without possession, and he was excellent at both ends of the pitch in Nigeria’s run to the final.
Nigeria’s captain scored pressure penalties against Ivory Coast in the group stage and during the semi-final shootout success against South Africa, having also netted from 12 yards in normal time.
It was Troost-Ekong who encouraged slumped shoulders following the South Africans’ late second-half leveller, recognising there was a game to be won when others around him were seemingly close to a psychological collapse.
Being named the competition’s best player was not a consolation for the centre-back, whose goal in the final could not prevent the Elephants’ eventual home success. Troost-Ekong only just misses out on a top-three spot this year.
3. Victor Osimhen
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Osimhen is a victim of his lofty standards, where 17 goals in 32 appearances is only deemed good enough for third place on our list. Napoli's season was marred by inconsistencies and managerial changes; combine that with Osimhen's injuries and off-field distractions, and you get a 10th-place finish for your troubles.
On an individual level, however, he was still the club's top scorer and came up big in several games. His contribution to Nigeria's run to the AFCON 2023 final was a display of selflessness and courage, as he fought and grafted his way against some of the continent's toughest defenders.
2. Victor Boniface
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Victor Boniface is ranked number two on the PulseSports30 list after an impressive performance with Bayer Leverkusen.
The forward was influential in Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking season despite having an injury-stricken season, which ruled him out of the AFCON 2023 tournament.
Boniface was Leverkusen’s top scorer, with 21 goals and 10 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
1. Ademola Lookman
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2024 is the year of Ademola Lookman as he warmed himself to the Nigerian football audience. With 3 goals and one assist, he was by far the best player for Nigeria as they finished runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In his second year with Atalanta, Lookman started the season as a key component of Gian Piero Gasperini's side in Serie A. He contributed a goal and an assist as Atalanta surged to the final of the Coppa Italia, only to lose to Juventus.
Lookman contributed 11 goals and eight assists as Atalanta finished fourth in Serie A and qualified for next season's Champions League.
However, it was in the Europa League that Lookman stamped his place as Nigeria's best this season with five goals including a hat-trick in the final as Atalanta took home the title.
Ademola Lookman had a total of 17 goals and ten assists in 45 appearances this season for Atalanta and takes the top spot on PulseSports30.
Click here to see players ranked between 6-10
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