2025/26 Super Eagles Team of the Season

After another outstanding season across Europe, Nigerian stars once again showcased their quality on some of football’s biggest stages. From title races to relegation battles, they delivered memorable performances, earning their places in PUNCH Sports Extra’s Super Eagles Team of the Season for 2025/26, lined up in a 4-4-2 formation GOALKEEPER — Maduka Okoye (Udinese) Maduka Okoye enjoyed a standout 2025/26 season, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s most dependable goalkeepers and strengthening his claim for Nigeria’s No. 1 shirt. The Udinese shot-stopper kept 10 clean sheets in 29 league games, becoming the first Nigerian goalkeeper since Vincent Enyeama in 2014/15 to reach double figures in a top-five European league. His impressive displays, including a commanding performance in a 3-0 win over AC Milan, earned him several Serie A Team of the Week selections and a nomination for the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. With a 70.9 per cent save rate and less than a goal conceded per game, Okoye played a key role in Udinese’s comfortable survival. He also received a Player of the Month nomination for May after back-to-back clean sheets against Torino and Cagliari. LEFT-BACK — Zaidu Sanusi (Porto) Zaidu Sanusi continued to prove his worth as one of African football’s most dependable left-backs, playing a key role as Porto won the Portuguese Primeira Liga title in the 2025/26 season — the second league winner’s medal of his time at the club. The 28-year-old made 26 appearances across all competitions, contributing one goal and two assists while logging over 1,600 minutes of action. His form has drawn attention from Serie A, with Atalanta reportedly identifying him as a summer target as the Bergamo club prepare for a major squad overhaul. CENTRE-BACK — Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor) Few Nigerian players enjoyed a rise as remarkable as Chibuike Nwaiwu in 2025/26. Less than a year after playing for Enyimba in the NPFL, the 22-year-old finished the season as a Turkish Cup winner, a Super Eagles international and one of Europe’s most sought-after young defenders. A commanding figure in Trabzonspor’s defence, Nwaiwu combined aerial dominance with composure on the ball, playing a key role in their Turkish Cup triumph while attracting interest from clubs including Newcastle United, Fulham and Bayer Leverkusen. CENTRE-BACK — Calvin Bassey (Fulham) Calvin Bassey has been the cornerstone of the Super Eagles’ defence throughout the season and arguably the most reliable Nigerian defender in European football. The Fulham centre-back combines an imposing physical