With Alex Iwobi’s goal for Arsenal against Brighton last October increasing to 471 the total number of goals scored by Nigerian players in the Premier League, the official website of the English Premier League has ranked Nigeria as the most productive African nation as far as goalscoring goes in the league and the 10th best in the world since the start of the money-spinning league in 1992.
Nigeria is followed by Cote d’Ivoire with 321 goals and Senegal with 314.
Globally, Nigeria is ranked 10th best with England, the home country of the league, coming first with 10,826 goals while France (1,477) and Republic of Ireland (945) are second and third respectively.
The bulk of the 471 goals scored by Nigeria were produced by just 10 players led by Yakubu Aiyegbeni who top-scored with 95 goals from 252 games in the EPL.
Ex-Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu had 54 goals from 273 appearances while Efan Ekoku had 52 goals from 160 games. Shola Ameobi is fourth with 43 strikes while Osaze Odemwingie has 36 goals from 129 appearances.
Five other players Obafemi Martins (28), Victor Anichebe (26), Victor Moses (17), Odion Ighalo (16) and Austin Okocha (14) provided 101 goals amongst them to bring to 381 the goals scored by the 10 players listed.
The remaining 90 goals came from the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho (12), Daniel Amokachi (10), Ade Akinbiyi (11), Joseph Yobo (8), Finidi George (6), Celestine Babayaro (5), Brown Ideye and Dickson Etuhu (4 each); Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi (2 each).
Iwobi (6), Seyi Olofinjana (3), John Utaka (7) and the trio of Mikel Obi, Isaac Success and Danny Shittu supplied one goal each.
Nigeria No.1 Scoring African Nation In EPL History, Top 10 In World
