Adesanya and Oshoala Featured in ESPN’s Top 25 African Athletes List

Israel Adesanya and Asisat Oshoala are among five Nigerians featured on ESPN’s list of the greatest African athletes of the 21st century. Oshoala secured her spot as a six-time African Women’s Player of the Year, while Adesanya, a former UFC middleweight champion, is currently striving to reclaim his title.

ESPN’s list highlights African athletes who have significantly impacted various sports.

Oshoala is celebrated for her remarkable success at both club and national levels, as well as her leadership in African women’s football.

Former Super Falcons striker and four-time African Women’s Player of the Year, Perpetua Nkwocha, also made the list and is considered one of the greatest Super Falcons players of all time.

Nicknamed ‘The Last Stylebender,’ Nigerian-Kiwi fighter Adesanya is regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC middleweight history, exemplifying the excellence and diversity of African athletes.

Additionally, Nigeria’s MMA fighter Kamaru Usman, a prominent figure in the UFC welterweight division, and New York Giants legend Osi Umenyiora, who found tremendous success in the NFL, were included. Umenyiora spent much of his childhood in Nigeria and has continued his post-NFL career in Lagos as a talent developer.

The list has sparked discussions due to the surprising exclusions of Nigerian football legends Jay-Jay Okocha and John Obi Mikel. Okocha is renowned for his flair and creativity on the field, while Mikel is celebrated for his success with Chelsea FC and the Nigerian national team.

ESPN’s complete list of the 25 best African athletes of the 21st century includes:

– Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) – Athletics
– Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – Athletics
– Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – Football
– Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) – Athletics
– Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) – Athletics
– Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) – Football
– Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – Athletics
– Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – Cricket
– Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) – Football
– Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Football
– Joel Embiid (Cameroon) – Basketball
– Siya Kolisi (South Africa) – Rugby
– Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) – Football
– Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa) – Athletics
– Israel Adesanya (Nigeria) – MMA
– Ernst van Dyk (South Africa) – Cycling
– Caster Semenya (South Africa) – Athletics
– Mary Keitany (Kenya) – Athletics
– Sadio Mane (Senegal) – Football
– Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria) – Football
– Chad le Clos (South Africa) – Swimming
– Ramy Ashour (Egypt) – Squash
– Kamaru Usman (Nigeria) – MMA
– Osi Umenyiora (Nigeria) – NFL
– Mwadi Mabika (DR Congo) – Basketball