Why Nigeria Doesn’t Have One Greatest Player Of All Time
![Why Nigeria Doesn’t Have One Greatest Player Of All Time](https://bestchoicesports.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/utaka-400x317.jpg)
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By Amaechi Agbo
It appears that the dust raised by former Super Eagles coach and now Nigeria’s Football Ambassador, Daniel Amokachi last month when he said that Mikel Obi is the greatest Nigeria football player ever, has refused to die down, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.
His statement, though a personal opinion, has found many Nigeria football followers hugely divided and expressing different views on who is the greatest Nigeria footballer of all time.
Many ex internationals who played along with Amokachi have disagreed with him. With some pitching tent with former Inter Milan forward, Kanu Nwankwo while others belier that Austin Okocha is the man to wear the cap.
However, another group believes that current highest goal scorer in the Super Eagles late Rashidi Yekini should be regarded as the best ever player in the country.
As the debate appears unabated, Ex-Super Eagles attacker, John Chukwudi Utaka, has added his view on the discourse. Utaka however took a different dimension and refused to align with any of the above mentioned schools of thoughts.
Utaka’s input follows after the likes of Daniel Amokachi and Leon Balogun sparked fresh debates on the greatness of Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
“In Egypt when I enter a taxi they always mention about four or five of Nigerian players to be the greatest, they will say Amunike because he played in Zamalek in Egypt,” Utaka said via Brila.
“Anytime they see me, they will ask if I’m from Nigeria, I will say yes and then they will talk about him. At times they will even call me Amunike, that shows that he did a great job during his days there in Egypt.
Utaka went on to reveal that the French community even go back as far as Rashidi Yakini, while also acknowledging Kanu and Okocha of recent times.
“Some other times in France, they mention Yekini, Amokachi, Kanu, and Okocha; and if you look at those names – It is difficult to pick out one to be named greatest ever.
“I know where to place Kanu for example based on his qualities, I also know how to rate Okocha based on his qualities and as well, Rashidi Yekini because of his goal scoring prowess.
However, picking one of these guys as the greatest ever is not a possibility, but collectively – We can pick a set or generation as the greatest,” added Utaka.