10 Ex-Super Eagles Players Whose Sons…

• Are Playing Football In Europe

Football in Nigeria has given us spectacular players who, with their skills, have immortalized their names in the history books of the country’s most popular sport.

It has long been a source of national pride and passion. It’s a sport that brings people together, creating moments that echo through generations. Among the celebrated stars are former Super Eagles footballers who engaged their fans with their skills on the field.

Some of these players have not only left legacies with their skills but also have their sons following in their footsteps to become footballers.

These young talents are now carving their paths in football, embodying the dreams and aspirations of their famous fathers. Here are some former Super Eagles stars whose sons are following in their footsteps, continuing their legacies on football pitches worldwide.

City People highlights 10 former Super Eagles players whose sons play football in Europe.

KEVIN MARTINS

Kevin Martins is the son of former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins. Obafemi made 42 appearances for the Super Eagles and scored 19 goals. He also featured for top clubs like Inter Milan and Newcastle United. Kevin, a 19-year-old forward, plays for Monza in Italy, and is aiming to make his mark in European football.

DENZEL OLISEH

Denzel Oliseh son of Super Eagles captain and coach Sunday Oliseh, was born in Belgium and his mother is Moroccan born in Belgium so he could also play for either country.

However, Oliseh Senior was clear about the country his son would represent.

Oliseh has said his footballing son Denzel will represent Nigeria even though he is also eligible to play for Belgium and Morocco.

Asked which country his son will play for, Oliseh senior replied to a Twitter user: “Naija”.

SEAN KANU

Sean Kanu, the 19-year-old son of Super Eagles legend, Kanu Nwankwo has secured a move to Górnik Polkowice in Poland’s fourth division.

The youngster, looking to emulate the footsteps of his dad, who led a successful career both at club and on the international stage, had represented Watford Under-16 in the United Kingdom a few years ago.

Reports in Poland have it that the attacker already signed the contract with Gornik Polkowice and the final details are being finalized with the league management so that Sean can be eligible to represent the club.

Kanu Nwankwo started with Nigerian-based club, Heartland of Owerri, The Naze Millionaires previously known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, before moving to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.

He later moved to Inter Milan and from there to Arsenal, where he became a part of the team that won the Premier League title with an Invincible status in 2004.

Kanu has set a high standard and for Sean to live up to it, he has a lot of work to do in the coming years. For the present, he takes his first steps in doing that with his first professional contract with Gornik Polkowice.

GODSWILL ENYEAMA

Godswill Enyeama is the son of the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama. He recently celebrated his son’s promotion to Lille’s U-18 squad. The young Enyeama has been promoted ahead of the new season, continuing the family tradition of excellence in goalkeeping.

Wesley Okoduwa

Wesley Okoduwa is carrying on the legacy of his father, former Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Okoduwa. The promising 15-year-old wingback could make his Premier League debut for Wolves this coming season after being on the bench against Newcastle and Arsenal last season.

He is the third son of Emmanuel Okoduwa, who made a name for himself with the U23s at the 2003 African Games hosted by Nigeria.

Wesley has 7 England U16 caps, including featuring against Belgium at the recent UEFA Development Tournament in Spain. In February, he was part of the England U16s who won the Football Federation Cup. Besides holding British citizenship, he also has an American passport as he was born in the USA. He is eligible to play for Nigeria as well.

LANDON EMENALO

Landon Emenalo, son of former Chelsea Technical Director and present Saudi Pro League Director of Football, Michael Emenalo.

He represented the Super Eagles at the 1994 World Cup and was formerly the Technical Director of Premier League giants Chelsea.

During Michael Emenalo’s time at Stamford Bridge, he oversaw the arrivals of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Winners Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo and attempted to sign ex-Nigeria U20 stars Isaac Success and Ganiu Ogungbe.

Landon Emenalo is yet to make his debut for Chelsea in the U18 Premier League, while Wes Okoduwa has appeared for Wolves U18s this season, coming on as a substitute for the last 23 minutes of their season opener against Blackburn Rovers.

Emenalo will be hoping to make his debut for England U16s in their second friendly against Italy on Thursday morning.

MAXI OYEDELE

Maxi Oyedele, son of Ayo is a Manchester United academy product, and he has been included in Poland’s squad for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Portugal and Croatia.

The 19-year-old is set to make his first senior national team appearance, having impressed for his new club, Legia Warsaw, so far this season. Oyedele moved to the Polish outfit this summer after spending 12 years with English giants Manchester United.

He signed his first professional contract with the Red Devils in 2022 and was sent on a season-long loan to Altrincham. Last year, he played on loan at Forest Green Rovers and left his parent club to join Legia Warsaw this summer. Born to a Polish mother and Nigerian father in Salford, England, Oyedele pledged his international future to Poland.

The young Nigerian said that the decision was made after the Polish Football Association contacted him, as he already represented the country’s youth teams.

In a recent interview, his father, Ayo Oyedele, explained how the player decided to play for Poland.

He said via All Nigeria Soccer: “I think he is closer to Poland than to Nigeria, where I come from and whose colours he could also represent.

“He has only been to Africa once in his life, and he has been here quite often – I have flown here with him more than ten times. “Although he grew up in England, he has always felt good in Poland. It is his second home. He knows the culture and the language,” he said.

KAYE IYOWUNA FURO

Kaye Furo is trying to follow in his dad’s footsteps in Belgium. The teen plays for Club Brugge. Furo Iyenemi, the father of Kaye, played for Nigeria at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

He was also in the Super Eagles team that lost the AFCON final to Cameroon in 2000. He made 5 appearances for the Nigerian national team in the same year.

Iyenemi was also a member of the U23 squad that year.

REUBEN SHAKPOKE

The youngster is the son of former Super Eagles defender, Jero Shakpoke. During his active days, Shakpoke made 6 appearances for the Nigerian national team and played for several clubs in Europe including Nice, Reggiana, and Bologna.

His son, Reuben is already making waves. He joined Aston Villa in October 2020, linking up with the Under-18 squad after completing a move from Norwich City.

Benprince Ezeh

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