Return home

[Chxta]

Does anyone have an idea of how many former Nigerian footballers return home after their playing careers are over? It appears to me that most simply settle abroad.

[Eaglezbeak]

Does anyone have an idea of how many former Nigerian footballers return home after their playing careers are over? It appears to me that most simply settle abroad.

If they are in a country that has a better standard of living it’s totally understandable that they’ll prefer to stay there especially if by the end of their careers they are settled with a home and family.
I’d think most successful Nigerian footballers that played abroad stay abroad until they need something in Nigeria.

[mcal]

...return home for what exactly? Come fight with thieves, well those wey try were blasphemed.

[Purity]

Yekini
Amokachi

[Dammy]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

[danfo driver]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

Oliha
Keshi - to an extent
Enyeama?
Babayaro
Aghahowa
Ikpeba
Oruma
Alloy Agu

[danfo driver]

...return home for what exactly? Come fight with thieves, well those wey try were blasphemed.

Football players are like other Nigerians. Many Nigerians feel HAPPY at home. And many non-football playing Nigerians have returned home in droves. Even those who had not retired, but decided it was time to go back.

[maceo4]

Its probably a better bet for these guys to be able to stretch their money further back home and be able to generate more income esp if they were previous Internationals. You need to make that money last a much longer period than your playing career and staying abroad probably will shorten it. Seems folks like Enyeama (based on their IG posts) rove in-between, seems to keep his family in France but frequent Naija as he has some business ventures there.

[kalani JR]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

I thought Siasia lived in Atlanta, his family does form what I recall.

[mcal]

...return home for what exactly? Come fight with thieves, well those wey try were blasphemed.

Football players are like other Nigerians. Many Nigerians feel HAPPY at home. And many non-football playing Nigerians have returned home in droves. Even those who had not retired, but decided it was time to go back.

...I understand return home to independent and personal life, not engaging trying to coach football especially national teams. It's a dog eat dog affair.

[danfo driver]

...return home for what exactly? Come fight with thieves, well those wey try were blasphemed.

Football players are like other Nigerians. Many Nigerians feel HAPPY at home. And many non-football playing Nigerians have returned home in droves. Even those who had not retired, but decided it was time to go back.

...I understand return home to independent and personal life, not engaging trying to coach football especially national teams. It's a dog eat dog affair.

The thread opener simply asked about those who "return home." Didnt say whether they try to become coaches.

[Chxta]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

Oliha
Keshi - to an extent
Enyeama?
Babayaro
Aghahowa
Ikpeba
Oruma
Alloy Agu

Thanks for these. Depressingly short list...

[Cmoke]

Monday James
Gabriel Okolosi
Tarili Okorowanta


Above na Ajegunle boys that returned home

Victor Ikpeba
Victor Agali

[surakat]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

Oliha
Keshi - to an extent
Enyeama?
Babayaro
Aghahowa
Ikpeba
Oruma
Alloy Agu

Thanks for these. Depressingly short list...

Most of the guys they even listed are not 100% in Nigeria. They are like one leg at home and one leg outside. The few that stayed are the ones that don't have their papers after all those years

[Aswani]

Yekini
Amokachi

Okocha
West
Mutu
Eguavoen
Okpalla
Amunike
Yobo
Fashanu
Udeze
Kanu
Pascal
Dimeji Lawal
Garba Lawal
Tijani Babangida
Siasia
Ugbade

Fasanu a special case surely, wasn't a Naija international (and wasn't even brought up in Naija) but "returned home" after the UK press made things hot for him and he also saw an opportunity to make good due to his political connections.

Fair play, he has stayed put.