Nigerian football has been known to be a conveyor of exciting talents and as the NPFL season for 2023/24 gets into the deep end, it's time to reflect on the emergence of young talents who have left an indelible mark on the league.
In this article, I delve into the rising stars who have captured the attention of fans and pundits alike with their exceptional performances.
From defensive stalwarts to prolific goal scorers, these youngsters have not only showcased their skills but also hinted at a promising future for Nigerian football.
NPFL's top young talents
Let's explore the standout young players who have lit up the NPFL so far this season.
Daniel Daga (Enyimba)
The 17-year-old has been a revelation since his breakout season two years ago as a scraggly 15-year-old thrust into the big time.
Now with Nigerian champions Enyimba by way of FC One Rocket, he is highly rated among Nigerian faithful because his talent belies his age.
A tough-tackling defensive midfielder, he was part of Nigeria’s U20 team at the last FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina where Nigeria exited in the quarter-finals.
Daga is currently with the Nigeria Men’s U20 team at the African Games in Ghana where he hopes to help Nigeria win gold.
Suleiman Sani (Akwa United)
A late entrant into my list as he has been immense for Akwa United since his move from Wikki Tourists in the second half of the season.
With three goals after two games, Sani, 17, has shown tremendous ability with exciting goals for the Uyo side.
He got one in Lagos against Sporting Lagos and then a brace in Uyo, reminiscent of his goal in Lagos by twisting and turning defenders before scoring.
Blessed with pace and great technique, he is one to look out for in the future.
Albert Hilary (Plateau United)
This season has been a breakout one for Plateau United forward Hilary as he has been the main man for Plateau United in their attack.
Used sparingly last season, he has come into his own with the goals and power play to lead Plateau United’s charge up the NPFL table.
At 19, he is built like a tank and has the pace to burn to become Mbwas Mangut’s main man in attack.
Hilary just returned from injury to grab his 11th goal of the season away in Akure in a 3-1 reversal, but he will be remembered for his well-taken hat-trick against Bayelsa United on match-day 14.
Chibueze Izuogu (Enyimba)
The 19-year-old started his career on the streets of Owerri where he later joined Papilo Academy and then moved to Enyimba in the summer of 2023.
It was a massive move for the youngster who had never played organized league football but he has shown so far that he has the talent to play for the Elephants and make a mark for himself.
Izuogu has played 15 times for Enyimba, he scored his first and only goal so far against Shooting Stars in Ibadan – a 30-yard thunderbolt to announce his name to Nigerian league fans.
Izougu's creative midfield play and passes have not gone unnoticed as he was selected for the Nigerian U20 Men’s football team currently in Ghana for the African Games. He has been one of the revelations of the season.
Yusuf Abdullahi (Kano Pillars)
When a transfer ban was placed on Kano Pillars ahead of the season due to their legal issues with former player Bassey Akpan, the club decided to promote some players from the youth team to take up spaces on the main squad.
This turned out to be a masterstroke.
Promoted to the Pillars first team this season after a couple of years with the youth side, Abdullahi came into the limelight with a five-goal haul against Gombe United on match-day 11.
The 18-year-old was unplayable in that game as his five goals helped Pillars defeat Gombe United 5-2 at the Pantami Stadium.
With that, he became the youngest player to score three or more goals in the history of the NPFL, the youngest player to score three or more goals at an away ground and now holds the record for the best goal haul in a single game away from home.
Abdullahi is currently in Norway with the hope of securing a deal in the country.
Ahmed Akinyele (Remo Stars)
Dan Ogunmodede has always been a believer in youth and has proven so by promoting two players from the academy side to the first team this season.
The duo of Ahmed Akinyele and Stanley Joseph, both defenders, have taken to the NPFL like a duck to water with the former especially catching the headlines.
Akinyele, 18, is a brilliant young defender who has quickly integrated into the Remo system with ease.
A strong tackler with good defensive awareness, he is probably another gem in the long line of products from Remo’s academy – Beyond Limits.
He has featured in 15 matches from the 23 games so far and scored two goals – against Shooting Stars and Abia Warriors.
