Alongside Nice striker Terem Moffi, Nigeria has had some great representation in Ligue 1 in the last few decades, with some of the players going on to distinguish themselves with both personal and team glories.
Even though it’s been over 20 years now, everyone seems to remember Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha’s stint with Paris Saint-Germain and the accompanying tittle-tattle that he mentored a young Ronaldinho and passed on some of his magical skills to the Brazilian.
Two decades on, and Nigerian footballers continue to make a name for themselves in the French topflight, the latest being Moffi, who reached the enviable milestone of 50 goals in Ligue 1 on Sunday during Nice’s 1-2 home defeat against Nantes.
The 24-year-old remains one of the quickest African players to reach half a century of goals in the French topflight and has also now added his name to the exclusive list of Nigerian players – only three, by the way – who have crossed the 50-goal mark in Ligue 1.
Terem Moffi and Nigeria’s top 5 highest scorers in Ligue 1 history
In light of Moffi’s terrific scoring record, AfrikFoot takes a look at Nigeria’s top five highest scorers in Ligue 1 history:
John Utaka – 59 goals
John Utaka is probably the most impactful Nigerian footballer to have ever played in France. The forward spent his prime years in the French topflight, where he lined up for Lens, Rennes and Montpellier.
He had successful spells at all three clubs and made goal-scoring a habit. Utaka spent a combined seven years in France playing for Lens, Rennes and Montpellier and reached double figures for goals in three of those seasons.
His Ligue 1 story ultimately came to an end with 59 league goals to his name, while also winning the title with Montpellier.
Victor Ikpeba – 55 goals
A man for the big occasions, Victor Ikpeba’s career is littered with some incredible pieces of silverware. An Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Olympic gold winner with Nigeria, he also enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at the club level.
Ikpeba may have played in Belgium when he first moved to Europe but it was in France that the stars started aligning for him. The 50-year-old became a cult hero at Monaco in the 1990s and was part of the side that won Ligue 1 and the Trophee des Champions in the 1996/1997 season.
Although Ikpeba lined up for only Monaco in France, his return of 55 league goals in 170 matches makes him one of Nigeria’s highest scorers in the French top flight.
Terem Moffi – 50 goals
Terem Moffi is the youngest player on the list of highest-scoring Nigerian footballers in Ligue 1. At just 24, the forward is already one of the most prolific players in the French topflight and his numbers back this claim.
Moffi moved to France in 2020 after joining Lorient from Belgian side Kortrijk. Despite swapping Lorient for Nice last year, the Nigeria international has already reached 50 Ligue 1 goals in the last three years.
With seven matches left to the end of the current campaign, it’s fair to say Moffi could surpass both Ikpeba and Ikpeba to become Nigeria’s highest scorer in the French top division.
Moses Simon – 25 goals
Moses Simon has been playing in France since 2019 and although he’s on the books of a Nantes side that alternates between mid-table and battling relegation, the winger still manages to contribute a decent return of goals.
The 28-year-old netted five times in his debut Ligue 1 campaign, before scoring six the apiece in the two seasons that followed. Last season, Simon scored five league goals for Nantes and had three goals to his name this term before suffering an injury that ended his season.
Simon’s return of 25 Ligue 1 goals, however, puts him fourth in the list of highest-scoring Nigerians in Ligue 1.
Peter Odemwingie – 23 goals
Peter Odemwingie was only 21 when he made the dream move to Ligue 1. The Nigerian forward had a three-year stint with Lille, where he was a regular fixture in their UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League campaigns.
Odemwingie scored just four league goals in his first season at Lille but announced himself properly in his sophomore year when he netted 14 times in the French topflight.
He would depart Lille for Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in 2007, but not without accounting for 23 Ligue 1 goals.
