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European leagues have long attracted talented footballers from local competitions, notably in South America and Africa, by offering better infrastructure, lucrative wages, and the promise of global recognition.
For Nigerian footballers, the open door of their European expedition is often credited to the ‘Big Boss,’ Stephen Keshi – of blessed memory – following his move to Belgian side Lokeren in 1986. Before his sojourn, Keshi was a household name in the Nigerian top division with ACB Lagos and New Nigerian Bank, with the league at the time exemplifying what a premier competition should be.
The success of Nigerian players across Europe years later is evident for all to see, with Kanu’s trickery at Arsenal, Oliseh’s thunderbolts at Dortmund, Mikel’s composed displays at Chelsea, Finidi’s celebrations at Betis, Yekini’s goals at Setubal, and Ikpeba’s coronation at Monaco, to name just a few.
However, in recent years, there has been an emerging trend of footballers returning home to play in their domestic league during the twilight of their careers.
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The Flying Dutchman, Robin van Persie, made a heartfelt return to Feyenoord in 2018 after an illustrious career with Arsenal, Manchester United, and Fenerbahçe, before retiring. Andriy Shevchenko, following a legendary spell at AC Milan and a stint with Chelsea, returned to his roots at Dynamo Kyiv in 2009 before hanging up his boots. Similarly, Carlos Tevez, after gracing the pitches of Manchester with both United and City, as well as Juventus, went back to nest at Boca Juniors.
Nigerian footballers aren’t left out of the equation, with a handful returning to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) — a homecoming which has brought renewed hope (no political pun intended), increased attention to the league, and sparked important conversations about its growth and development.
In the NPFL, few players command as much recognition as Victor Ezeji. The forward, who spent part of his career playing for Dolphins FC and Sharks FC, toured the continent and returned to the league with a wealth of experience and a commitment to mentorship. Others worthy of mention include Sani Kaita and Gbolahan Salami.
On 28 January, the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano hosted two of the NPFL’s freshest returnees — Ahmed Musa and Brown Ideye — as Kano Pillars faced the Elephants, Enyimba International FC.
Both players are widely regarded as legends for their contributions to Nigeria winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations for the third time. Ideye played every second of the final, while Musa was introduced in the 53rd minute, replacing Ikechukwu Uche.
Sunday Mba who scored the winner was on the books of the flying antelopes – Rangers International.
The impact of such returns is significant, as their presence impacts the profile of the league, with fans who once followed their European careers easily drawn to watch them in action – regardless of location. This, in turn often leads to increased attendance and essential media coverage.
Beyond the pitch, these players bring professionalism, experience, and guidance. For a footballer promoted from a feeders’ team to find himself sharing the same locker-room with Ideye or Musa, it’s the stuff of dreams — a significant boost to the development of young talents.
The reality, however, is that the returning stars can only do so much if the systemic problems militating against the progress of the NPFL are not addressed. Once ranked the strongest league in Africa, the NPFL continues to struggle with issues such as inconsistent funding, subpar infrastructure, administrative lapses, and fan apathy.
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