The nickname is a common feature among professional footballers around the world. In Nigeria, footballers are often given nicknames by their teammates or fans based on certain circumstances. Below is a list of three popular Nigerian footballers and their nicknames. It will be of interest to readers to take a look at how the nicknames of these football players originated.
-Taye Taiwo (The Tornado)
The left back plays for Olympic Marseille in France and the Super Eagles in Nigeria. He is popularly called “The tornado”, for the shot he packs in his left leg. He has scored sensational goals for both club and country on a number of occasions and this has endeared him to the fans, hence his nickname. He played for Nigeria’s Lobi FC before moving to the Ligue 1 outfit after a successful outing with the under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles.
– 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 from his first name Obafemi and the fact that he has scored many goals for both club and country. He is also commonly referred to as the weapon of mass destruction, due to his accuracy in front of goal.
Obafemi Martins single-handedly scored a brace that qualified Nigeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. Blessed with a devastating left footed strike, he continues to enjoy rave reviews in international soccer circles.
-Daniel Amokachi (Da Toro)
Daniel Owenin Amokachi earned the nickname Da Bull due to his power play and all-around performance while playing for the Nigerian Super Eagles. He had a way of picking his way against the opposition defense and never gave up when he had the ball. His skill, power and passion made him a fan favorite and this culminated in his signing to top English side Everton FC at the height of his career in the 2003-2004 season. . He also participated in the Belgian-Anderlecht FC Championship.
He is currently a football analyst for the South African sports channels-Super sports, where he analyzes the English first division weekly. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he was appointed by the Nigerian Football Federation as an assistant coach to Swedish coach Lars Lagerback. However, Nigeria failed to make it past the first round and the entire squad and coaching staff were disbanded after Nigeria’s embarrassing exit.