There is only one Nigerian player among the 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees, Asisat Oshoala. Oshoala, who had an outstanding year with Barcelona, is one of the 19 players nominated in the Women’s category.
With 19 goals, the 27-year-old tied for first place in the Spanish Primera division at the end of the season, assisting Barcelona in keeping the league championship.
She received a nomination for the Ballon d’Or as a result of her outstanding play. Oshoala is the lone nominee from Nigeria, male or female, and the first female athlete from Africa to receive a nomination.
Oshoala is not the first Nigerian celebrity to receive a nomination, despite being the only one this year. The Ballon d’Or-nominated Nigerian athletes are examined by Pulse Sports.
George Finidi, 1995
One of the three Super Eagles nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 1995 was Finidi George, but the former Real Betis player won the award in the end.
As a member of the all-powerful Ajax team that dominated Europe in 1995, Finidi was nominated for the Ballon d’Or the same year.
With only six votes, the former Nigerian international placed 21st in the final standings. Ironically, George Weah won it in 1995 as well. To date, Weah is the only African to have received the honor.
Jay-Jay Okocha Austin (1995)
Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, one of Nigeria’s most gifted players, was nominated for the Ballon d’Or that same year but did not garner any votes.
Amokachi, Daniel (1995)
In recognition of his heroics for Everton, Daniel Amkoachi also received a nomination.
The former assistant coach of the Super Eagles contributed to the Toffees’ FA Cup victory that year by scoring twice against Tottenham Hotspur in the semifinal.
Kanu Nwankwo (1996, 1999)
The next year, Nwankwo Kanu received the same nominations as Finidi, Okocha, and Amokachi. The former Arsenal player was a member of the 1995 Champions League-winning Ajax team, but he didn’t receive a Ballon d’Or nomination until the following year.
At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Kanu had it all under control as he led Nigeria to victory in the men’s football competition.
In the semifinal against a star-studded Brazil team, he scored twice. With 11 votes, Kanu received the most Ballon d’Or votes of any Nigerian player in history as he placed 14th in the final rankings that year.
He earned 32 points to place sixth in the FIFA World Player of the Year rankings that same year. Three years later, in 1999, Kanu was nominated for another Ballon d’Or. Kanu left Ajax in 1996 to join Inter Milan, although he struggled there due to a heart condition. Arsene Wenger, the manager of Arsenal, still gambled on him in 1999, and it paid off.
That year, Kanu became popular as he brilliantly scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in the Premier League. He was awarded another Ballon d’Or position for his efforts that year, despite coming in 23rd with only two votes.
Kanu won the CAF player of the year award in 1996 and 1999, which is not surprising.
Ikpeba Victor (1997)
Another famous Nigerian with a Ballon d’Or candidacy is Victor Ikpeba, a.k.a. the Prince of Monaco. In 1997, the former Borussia Dortmund player received a nomination after a standout campaign with Monaco.
In the 1996/1997 Ligue 1 season, Ikpeba scored 13 league goals and an additional seven in the UEFA Cup, which is now the Europa League. The following season, the former Super went even farther, scoring 16 league goals and four in the Champions League.
Ikepba received two votes, however his position in the Ballon d’Or standings was just 32nd.
Oliseh Sunday (1998)
In 1998, Sunday Oliseh, a former coach of the Super Eagles, was nominated for the Ballon d’Or. The international player from Nigeria received compensation for his efforts for Ajax in the Eredivisie.
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