Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has shared his perspective on why Nigeria tends to produce more strikers than defenders and players in other positions in recent times.
Currently boasting a wealth of top strikers, Nigeria is recognized for having some of the best attackers in Africa and globally, with Victor Osimhen leading the ranks, accompanied by talents like Gift Orban, Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface, and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Okocha, in a recent interview, offered insights into why goal-scoring positions are more appealing to Nigerian players compared to other roles on the field.
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“I will say football is part of our culture in Nigeria. And every kid in Nigeria wants to be a goal-scorer. [They] want to be noticed,” Okocha expressed.
“They realized that maybe the offensive midfielders, players, and strikers are the ones that get noticed more than defenders. And maybe because of nature.”
“Also, the way we are built has made [Nigeria] produce a lot of strikers,” Okocha added.
According to Okocha, the cultural emphasis on goal-scoring, the desire for recognition, and perhaps the inherent physical attributes of the players contribute to the prevalence of talented strikers emerging from Nigeria.
With Nigerian strikers currently excelling globally, the allure of playing in such prominent positions is likely to persist and attract more aspiring talents.