Okoye, Iwobi, Onyeka, Dele-Bashiru Reveal Favourite NPFL Clubs

Super Eagles quartet, Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Frank Onyeka, have revealed the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs they would like to play for if the opportunity comes.

Recently, Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi (former Super Eagles defender) joined NPFL heavyweight Kano Pillars.

It was a perfect return for Musa who bagged the two goals in Pillars’ 2-0 home win against Sunshine Stars on Game Week 5 in the NPFL.

It is Musa’s third spell with Pillars after featuring for them in the 2009/10 season and in 2021.

Abdullahi was also a former player for Pillars whom he left on July 2014 for Kuwait Premier League side Qadsia SC.

Following Musa and Abdullahi’s return, the four players, in a video posted on the X handle of Football Temple, revealed their preferred NPFL clubs.

“The only option for me is Enugu Rangers, the Flying Antelopes is my team,” Okoye said. “Some Nigerians know already, it’s my father’s club, it’s where we are from, it’s where my roots are from. If I’m coming one day to the NPFL it would be Enugu Rangers.”

When asked for his choice, Iwobi said:”I will join Musa at Kano Pillars.”

Dele-Bashiru also picked Kano Pillars as the club he would join if he is to play in the Nigerian topflight.

“If I had to, the club I know the most is Kano Pillars so maybe I would go there.”

For Onyeka, he picked Nigeria’s only CAF Champions League winners Enyimba.

“My state has a good team, Enyimba, so obviously I would like play for Enyimba but again you never know. Some player would say they wish to play for one team and end up playing for another team.”

In the past former Super Eagles stars have had to return to end their playing career in the Nigerian league.

Among notable names who returned to the league after their sojourn in foreign leagues include the late Rashidi Yekini, Okechukwu Uche and Mobi Oparaku.

Yekini played for Julius Berger in the 2002-03 season and joined Gateway in 2005 while Uche signed for Ocean Boys in 2007 and Bayelsa United in 2008.

For Oparaku, he was at Gateway from 2005 to 2008 and left for Enyimba in 2008 and departed in 2010.