Pulse List 2017: 10 Nigerian players that won titles with foreign clubs this year

Victor Moses with his wife and kids

This Pulse List 2017 article recognises the efforts of some Nigerian players abroad.

Nigerian footballers are scattered all over the world, plying their trades in different continents and flying the flag of the country high.

In 2017, some of these players helped their clubs to titles in their respective countries.

The first six players won on the list won league titles while the others helped their respective clubs to other major club titles.

This is list is to recognise the huge efforts of these players.

1. Victor Moses (Chelsea/Premier League)

 

Unarguably the biggest trophy in this list, Victor Moses won the Premier League with Chelsea in the year under review.

Moses started the season with Chelsea as a fringe player before he found his place in the team as a wing-back.

It was in that role that the Nigerian excelled making 22 consecutive Premier League starts from September 2016 to April 2017, 28 starts and 33 league appearances in total as Chelsea won the Premier League title.

2. John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Israeli Premier League and Israel Super Cup)

 

One of the most consistent Nigerian midfielders in recent years, John Ogu has continued to play his part in Hapoel Be’er Sheva's domination in Israel.

He made 30 league appearances as they won their second consecutive Israeli Premier League title and also helped in their Israel Super Cup title which they also successfully defender.

3. Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Israeli Premier League and Israel Super Cup)

 

After helping Hapoel Be’er Sheva to win their first Israeli Premier League title 2016, Anthony Nwakaeme stepped up in 2017 to help his team defend the title.

He scored 14 goals in 23 league appearances earning him the award for the best player in Israel. He also played a huge part in their second consecutive Israel Super Cup win.

4. Efe Ambrose (Hibernian/Scottish Championship)

 

Efe Ambrose’s run of four consecutive league titles was thought to have been over when he left Scottish giants Celtic for lower league side Hibernian in February.

He, however, continued with his league winning streak by helping the side to the Scottish Championship (second division).

5. Yusuf Otubanjo (MSK Zilina/Slovak Super Liga)

 

Nigerian footballer Yusuf Otubanjo finished 2017 as a league winner with MSK Zilina in Slovakia.

The 25-year-old scored eight goals in 18 appearances, helping MSK Zilina to their seventh league title in their 109-year-old history.

6. Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly/ Egyptian Premier League and Egypt Cup)

 

With most focused of Nigerian players abroad on the European-based stars, Junior Ajayi remained in the continent of Africa churning out impressive performances for Al Ahly of Egypt.

In 2017, the 21-year-old striker won the Egyptian Premier League and Egypt Cup double with Al Ahly. He was gunning for fantastic treble before losing with Al Ahly in the final of the CAF Champions League.

7. Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FA Cup, Community Shield)

 

Despite a frustrating outing in the Premier League, Alex Iwobi managed to win the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2017.

The 21-year-old did not make any impact in the latter stage of the FA Cup but still managed to make three FA Cup appearances in the run to Arsenal’s win.

He was impressive in the Community Shield, starting for Arsenal in their penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in August.

8. Kingsley Madu (Zulte Waregem/Belgian Cup)

Serial winner Kingsley Madu continued with his impressive trophy haul as he won the Belgian Cup with Zulte Waregem.

It adds to his two Slovak Super Liga titles and  two Slovak Cup trophies with AS Trencin.

 

9. Aliko Bala (Zulte Waregem/Belgian Cup)

Nigerian winger Aliko Bala was also in the Zulte Waregem squad that won the 2017 Belgian Cup title.

10. Chisom Chikatara (Wydad Casablanca/CAF Champions League)

 

Although he made little impact, Chisom Chikatara was part of the Wydad Casablanca squad that beat Al Ahly to win the 2017 CAF Champions League.

He became the fourth  Nigerian player to win the CAF Champions League with a foreign club.

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