Izuchukwu OkosiThe squad market value of Nigeria men’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, has risen as the year 2023 rounds off, according to statistical website Transfermarkt.
The Eagles, who are heading to the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in 16 days time moved one step and are now ranked 12th most financially valuable national team in the world.
The Nigerian team also maintained their position as the most expensive team in Africa.
According to the information by Transfermarkt, the three-time African champions have a total value of €465.90m (N465 billion), slightly better than their 13th-place finish in October with a market value of €451.60 million, meaning it’s an increase of €14.3 million compared to the previous value of the squad.
From the information provided by Transfermarkt, the inclusion of Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella and the recent outstanding performances of some of the Eagles players for their various club sides contributed to the massive rise in the squad market value.
Tella has a market value of €23 million.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen who was on December 11 crowned the Africa Player of the Year is valued at €120 million.
Bayer Leverkusen sensation Victor Boniface who made his international debut in 2023 is currently the team’s second most expensive player and is valued at €40 million.
Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has a market value of €30 million as he is ranked the third most valuable player in the squad.
Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, who has been omitted from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad due to a hamstring injury, is valued at €28 million falling short of the €30 million before his injury setback.
Fulham forward Alex Iwobi is also valued at the same €28 million as Awoniyi.
The duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Terem Moffi maintained their €25 million valuation, while there was an upward valuation for the quintet of Moses Simon, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka and Jordan Torunarigha.
Intriguingly, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is the only shot-stopper that reached the million valuation with a market value of €2m despite playing only 120 minutes of football this season thus far.
First-choice Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is valued at €500,000 while Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye is €100, 000 lower than Uzoho’s while Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke who has been named in the 41-man provisional Super Eagles squad has no valuation.
On the African scene, Morocco is the second most valued side after Nigeria with €350.80 million rising from their previous €326.05 million valuation. The Atlas Lions are also 13th in the world.
Nigeria’s Group A rivals and hosts of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire are ranked third in Africa and 15th in the world with a value of €340.58 million, a €25.5 million increase from their previous €315.08 million.
Senegal maintained their fourth place on the African continent with a valuation of €266 million, closely followed by Ghana at €285 million which climbed above Algeria which occupies the fifth spot.
On the global football market, England continues to be ranked as the world’s most valuable national team with a market value of €1.15bn, improving after their previous €1.37 billion while Brazil took second spot with Samba men valued at €1.09 billion.
France (€1.05 billion), Portugal (€922 million) and Spain (€837 million) complete the top five most valuable national teams in the world in that order.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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