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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.
Over the next five days, we will reveal a batch of five players that made our list until we get to number one.
We launch this year's ranking by revealing players ranked between 30-26.
30. Gabriel Osho
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Despite a heartbreaking end to their first-ever Premier League campaign, Anglo-Nigerian defender Gabriel Osho was a shining star for Luton Town.
The 25-year-old was in fine form at both ends of the pitch, with two goals to his name in his Premier League debut campaign.
His form also earned him a first-ever Super Eagles call-up and 30th spot on the PulseSports30 list.
29. Akor Adams
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By every metric, it has been a lovely introduction to one of Europe’s top five leagues for bullish striker Akor Adams.
With eight goals and one assist in 32 appearances for Montpellier, the 24-year-old had a lovely transition from the Norwegian league to the Ligue 1.
In all, he scored four braces for Montpellier across competitions in his debut season to earn number 29 on the PulseSports30 list.
28. Frank Onyeka
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Frank Onyeka was a stalwart in midfield for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2023. The style deployed by erstwhile manager Jose Peseiro required an engine in midfield, and the 26-year-old fulfilled the role with aplomb.
He played and started all seven games for Nigeria at the tournament and was substituted before the 85th-minute mark only once—a change enforced by a sustained yellow card—underscoring his importance.
Although Onyeka featured as a squad player for Brentford this season, starting only 11 league games in 26 appearances—scoring twice and assisting once—his exploits for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2023 has earned him the 28th spot on Pulse Sports' 30.
27. Chidozie Awaziem
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Chidozie, 27, was one of the better-performing Nigerian defenders in world football this season. Awaziem plays for Boavista in the Portuguese top flight.
He played 24 games for Boavista this season and was integral in their successful push to avoid relegation at the end of the season. Awaziem was one of the Nigerian contingent at the AFCON 2023 tournament, although he only played one minute in the competition.
26. Chidera Ejuke
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Although the 26-year-old could not help Royal Antwerp defend their Pro League title, he made the most of his loan spell, featuring heavily throughout the campaign.
Ejuke played 29 league matches for Mark Van Bommel’s side, scoring four goals and providing four assists—a tally that helped him rank joint-third amongst the top goal contributors for Royal Antwerp.
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