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After dropping three consecutive times, the Super Eagles have finally seen their squad market value rise in the transfer market, PUNCH Sports reports.
Rated among the world’s most valuable teams with a total value of €465.90m in January, the Eagles’ value dropped to €252m in July, a drop that also affected their global rankings.
However, according to the latest Transfermarkt report, Nigeria’s squad value has risen to €281m.
Eagles drop in the previous edition hinged on Victor Osimhen’s absence from the team that faced South Africa and Benin Republic in the last phase of the 2026 World Cup CAF qualifying series that saw them claim just one point from a possible six, which saw the three-time African champions suffer a massive drop to €91m, their second huge drop this year.
While Osimhen once again missed the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya earlier this month, the return of Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, and the rise in Victor Boniface’s value helped the team move up in the latest release by the finance expert website.
They moved up by seven steps and are now ranked the 19th most valuable international team in the world.
While they are yet to reclaim their number one position as the most financially valuable team in Africa from Morocco, they now occupy the second position, two steps above their previous rankings.
The Eagles boast players who ply their trade in Europe’s lucrative leagues. Despite the rise, it is surprising that the team has a meagre value of €282m, which, according to the official exchange rate of the naira to the euro on Monday (N1,775), amounted to N500bn.
In July, they were placed 26th with a market value of €252m, but their squad value has witnessed an increase of €30m compared to the squad’s previous value.
Not only was Osimhen’s absence felt on the pitch during Nigeria’s slender win over Libya in Uyo, he was also omitted from the Transfermarkt list, which was a major factor in the massive reduction in the squad value as the striker boasts a huge €75m market value.
Bayer Leverkusen sensation Victor Boniface is currently the team’s most valuable player following his latest rise.The striker has a market value of €45m, €5m more than Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who is the second-most expensive player.
Maduka Okoye’s fine start to the 2024/25 season has seen the Udinese goalkeeper witness a rise of €3.5m to take his value to €7.5m.
Okoye has the highest value among the three goalkeepers included in the squad by Transfermarkt, while Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie, according to the website, are both valued at €550,000 and €0k, respectively.
In defence, aside from Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina, whose values stand at €16m and €12m, respectively, no other defender is worth €10m, with Bright Osayi-Samuel the nearest with €8m.
William Troost-Ekong (€2m) and Semi Ajayi (€1.5m) are merely €3.5m combined.
While Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, Frank Onyeka, and Alhassan Yusuf all maintained their previous values, Kelechi Iheanacho, unsurprisingly, suffered a drop in his market value, which currently stands at €9m.
Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to trail Morocco, who, despite a massive drop of €75m, still boast a €325m squad value. The reduction in their market value saw them drop two places to now rank 16th globally.
Senegal are second on the continent with a value of €276m, while Africa Cup of Nations winners, Ivory Coast, who were second in Africa in July, are now third on the continent and 25th globally with a value of €245m.Ghana (€228m) and Cameroon (€179m) occupy the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
England retained their position as the most financially valuable team in the world with a market value of €1.34bn, while France dislodged Brazil to occupy the second position with a €1.06bn squad value.
Portugal (€972m), The Netherlands (€778m), and Brazil (€767m) complete the top five national teams in the world.
