- Six of Nigeria's most talented midfielders plying their trade overseas are set to go head-to-head for the highly coveted EaglesTracker Best Midfielder of the Season award for the 2022/2023 campaign.
The nominees include a group of exceptional footballers who have left an indelible mark on the pitch.
First on the list is Christy Ucheibe, who has been an instrumental force for Benfica Women FC. Ucheibe played an instrumental role in securing Benfica's third league title, outclassing second-place Sporting CP with a significant nine-point margin.
The 22-year-old starlet, who also clinched the Taça da Liga with the Portuguese side, has her sights set on representing the Super Falcons in the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Obinna Nwobodo, a prodigious talent now shining at FC Cincinnati, is another deserving nominee.
Nwobodo has taken the Major League Soccer (MLS) by storm since joining Cincinnati from Turkey's Göztepe in April 2022.
Also nominated is Raphael Onyedika. In his debut season at Club Brugge, Onyedika made an instant impact by propelling the team beyond the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. Onyedika, who made his international debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly against Algeria, made 31 league appearances as Club Brugge relinquished their league crown to Royal Antwerp.
Alhassan Yusuf, a standout performer for Royal Antwerp, will also stake his claim for the prestigious accolade.
Yusuf played a pivotal role in securing the Belgian league title for Antwerp after an agonizing wait of over six decades, and he also contributed to their victorious Belgian Cup campaign, which secured a historic double.
Everton's Alex Iwobi also left an indelible mark on the Premier League this season.
The versatile midfielder made a significant impact by featuring in every league match for Everton, amassing an impressive tally of two goals and eight assists. Iwobi's outstanding contributions have earned him the coveted Players' Player of the Year award at Everton.
However, the standout favourite for the Best Midfielder of the Season award is Middlesbrough's starlet Chuba Akpom.
Under the astute guidance of former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, Akpom transformed himself into an attacking midfield force to be reckoned with.
His goal-scoring prowess was on full display, as he found the back of the net an astounding 28 times in 38 Championship games, earning him the league's top scorer award. Despite his heroic efforts, Middlesbrough narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
