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PulseSports30 is an annual football ranking that recognizes the 30 best-performing Nigerian footballers from across the globe.
PulseSports30 makes a return for a second year, recognizing the 30 best-performing Nigerian footballers from the 2022/23 football season.
As a non-discriminatory annual ranking, PulseSports30 considers footballers of Nigerian heritage who performed excellently either in Africa, Asia, Europe, North/South America, or Oceania.
56 performers were shortlisted for this year's final ranking, with 30, chosen after amassing the most points in a cumulative merit polling.
Meet entrants 21 to 30.
30. HENRY ONYEKURU
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Onyekuru’s attempt to rediscover his form at Turkish side Adana Demirspor on loan from Monaco proved largely successful, as the Nigerian was involved in 11 goals in only 24 starts for the club.
Despite battling niggling injuries, his eight goals – an average of one goal every 178 minutes – and three assists for Adana Demirspor helped them finish fourth in the Turkish Super Lig, just missing out on the final European qualification spot.
29. OVIE EJEHERI
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Ejeheri spent the first half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Chelmsford in the English National League South, but his performances prompted Arsenal to recall him from Non-League football.
Another loan deal followed in January, this time to SJK Seinajoki in the Finland first division, and the 20-year-old has taken the Finnish Veikkausliiga by storm with eight clean sheets in 11 league games so far, helping SJK to a place in the Championship playoffs.
28. IBRAHIM OLAWOYIN
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With seven goals, eight assists, and two penalties earned in the 2022/23 campaign, Olawoyin was the star of the Turkish TFF First League, showing his undeniable quality across two clubs in the division.
Olawoyin started the campaign with Ankara Keçiörengücü, but ended it with Caykur Rizespor, helping the latter, who were in sixth place upon his arrival, to promotion via a second-place finish in the league with three goals and three assists.
27. IGHO OGBU
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Ogbu, along with compatriot Peter Olayinka, was a major driving force behind the Slavists coming within a hair’s breadth of winning the Fortuna Liga.
Ogbu was a stalwart in defence, missing only one league fixture as Slavia finished second behind city rivals Sparta in the final Championship rankings despite securing the same number of points. Slavia were, however, able to beat Sparta to the Czech Cup, with Ogbu starring once again in a convincing 2-0 final victory.
26. CYRIEL DESSERS
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After finishing as the top scorer in the maiden edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022, Cyriel Dessers’ move to Cremonese in Italy has not panned out as the forward had hoped.
Despite this, the Belgium-born forward put together an impressive 2022/23 campaign on an individual level, finishing with the joint-most goal contributions for relegated Cremonese in Serie A, with six goals and two assists in only 19 starts for the club.
25. ELIJAH ADEBAYO
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While the giant forward failed to reach the levels that saw him finish as high as 24th in the 2022 edition of PulseSports30, Adebayo had a season to be proud of.
Standing at an incredible 6ft 4in, the striker finished as his club’s second-highest scorer as Luton Town sealed a historic promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs. The 25-year-old contributed 10 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions last season for the Hatters.
24. ADEBAYO ADELEYE
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The Hapoel Jerusalem pair of safe hands has continued to grow between the sticks for his club in Israel. Adeleye featured 29 times and kept 10 clean sheets, leading to his nomination for the best goalkeeper award.
His form has also carried over into the international stage. He put up an encouraging display on debut in June as the Super Eagles sealed a ticket to the 2024 AFCON with a 3-2 win over Sierra Leone.
23. ALHASSAN YUSUF
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It was a strong season for the Nigerian youngster who played an important role as his club lifted the league title.
Yusuf featured 32 times across all competitions, 27 of them in the Jupiler where he helped his club Royal Antwerp to a first league title in over 60 years. He only assisted one goal from his defensive midfield role though, and missed the final months of the season due to injury.
22. ZAIDU SANUSI
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Sanusi might have missed out on another league success with FC Porto last season, but the fullback got his hand on more silverware as he won the Portuguese cup with Porto, playing three games in the process, including the 2-0 win over Braga in the final.
Although he struggled with injuries last season, Sanusi still delivered an impressive shift for Porto, playing 18 times in the Portuguese top flight. Not only that, but the Nigerian star also played in all of Porto’s Champions League matches, starting six out of eight matches, and helping them to a last-16 finish.
21. CHUKWUEMEKA OBIOMA
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The Enyimba man was at his very best as the nine-time Nigerian champions returned to the top of the tree in the NPFL under the guidance of former Nigeria international Finidi George.
Obioma proved to be a key player, leading superbly from the front as the People’s Elephant marched to a ninth title in the football league. In total, he netted 16 goals to finish as the league's Golden Boot winner and was also decisive during the season-ending Super 6.
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