The nicknames of the three most prolific Nigerian footballers and what they mean

The nickname is a common feature among professional footballers around the world. In Nigeria, football players are often nicknamed by coworkers or fans based on certain circumstances. Below is a list of three popular Nigerian soccer players and their nicknames. Readers will be interested in taking a look at how these soccer players’ nicknames originated.

– Taye Taiwo (The Tornado)

The left-back plays for France’s Olympique de Marseille and the Nigeria Super Eagles. It is popularly called “The tornado “, for the shot he packs on his left leg. He has scored sensational goals for both the club and the country on several occasions and this has made him loved by the fans, hence the nickname. He played for Lobi FC of Nigeria before moving to Ligue 1 after a successful outing with the Flying Eagles U-20 national team.

– Obafemi Martins (Obagoal or Weapon of Mass Destruction)

He remains one of the most prolific forwards in the Nigerian Super Eagles fold. He currently practices his trade with the Russian club Rubin Kazan. He has been given the nickname Obagoal because of his first name Obafemi and because of the fact that he has scored many goals for both the club and the national team. It is also commonly known as the weapon of mass destruction, due to its precision in front of the goal.

Obafemi Martins scored just one double that qualified Nigeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Blessed with a devastating left foot, he continues to enjoy rave reviews in the international soccer circle.

– Daniel Amokachi (Da Bull)

Daniel Owefin Amokachi earned the nickname Da Bull, due to his power play and complete performance while playing for the Nigerian Super Eagles. He had a way of fighting his way against the opposing defense and never gave in when he was on the ball. His skill, power and passion made him a fan favorite and this culminated in his signing by the English team, Everton FC, at the height of his career in the 2003-2004 season. He also participated in the Belgian Champions-Anderlecht FC.

He is currently a soccer analyst at the South African sports channels, Superdeportes, where he analyzes the first English league on a weekly basis. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Nigerian Football Federation appointed him as assistant coach to Swedish coach Lars Lagerback. Nigeria, however, failed to make it through the first round and the entire squad and coaching staff were disbanded after Nigeria’s embarrassing departure.