Top 3 Nigerian players of the decade

Nigeria is arguably the greatest African football team. The Super Eagles have enjoyed tremendous success throughout their history, securing FIFA World Cup qualification six times reaching the Round of 16 three times.

The West African nation is also successful in the continental Championship, having won 15 medals from their participation in the AFCON. They have enjoyed success in the Olympic Games winning the Gold medal in 1996, Silver Medal in 2008 and Bronze Medal in 2016.

Three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners has produced the finest footballers in the continent who have taken the European leagues by storm and made a tremendous contribution to their respective clubs in Europe.

Here is a look at the top three players who have donned the famous green Super Eagles green jersey over the past 10 years.

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#3 Victor Moses

Victor Moses in action for Chelsea

Victor Moses made a name for himself in his first season in the English Premier League with Wigan Athletic, which secured him a career-defining transfer to London giants Chelsea.

Despite having a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge where he was sent on loan to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United, Moses resurrected his Chelsea career with the appointment of Italian coach Antonio Conte as Chelsea manager.

He performed exceptionally as a wing-back in Conte's famous 3-4-3 formation to help Chelsea win the most coveted English Premier League trophy and FA Cup in the Italian's debut season in England.

The winger was in top form for the Super Eagles as they won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

His impressive performance en route to winning the Africa Cup of Nations title earned him a place in CAF's Best 11 of the tournament. He is currently on loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce.

#2 Vincent Enyeama

LOSC Lille v Grasshopper Club - UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round: Second Leg

Vincent Enyeama is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Nigeria and Africa. The shot-stopper's European journey started in Israel where he won the league title with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

His impressive performances for Hapoel Tel Aviv between the sticks secured him a move to French Ligue 1 side Lille in 2011, but he was loaned to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Upon returning from his loan spell in Israel, the former Nigerian skipper became Lille's first-choice goalkeeper.

The shot-stopper repaid Lille's faith in making him the first-choice goalkeeper by keeping an astonishing 11 consecutive clean sheets and was just 114 minutes away from equalling the Ligue 1 goalkeeping record that was set in 1993.

Enyeama brought his Ligue 1 form to the national side by helping the Super Eagles lift the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013. He hung his boots in 2014 after equalling Joseph Yobo's 101 appearances for the national team.

#1 John Obi Mikel

John Obi Mikel in action for Nigeria

John Obi Mikel is one of the most decorated African midfielders in the history of football. The tough-tackling midfielder spent a decade playing football for English giants Chelsea after joining the Blues as a youngster in 2006.

His consistency and continuous improvement ensured that he stayed at Stamford Bridge for many years despite the frequent changes in managers.

He played a key role while at Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, English Premier League, and the FA Cup. The icing on the cake for Mikel's glittering career was in 2013 when he captained the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory in South Africa.

He later led the Nigerian U-23 side to an Olympic bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. After 89 caps for the Nigerian football team, Mikel retired to give room for the new crop of exciting youngsters like Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi.