Nigeria @66: Everton leads European clubs in Independence Day tributes

European football clubs, led by English Premier League side Everton, have joined Nigerians in celebrating the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary with messages and tributes highlighting their connections to Nigerian football.

Everton marked the occasion on Thursday with a graphic featuring several Nigerian players who have represented the club, accompanied by the message: “Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!”

The artwork, designed in Nigeria’s green and white colours, featured former Super Eagles stars Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe and Alex Iwobi, alongside Ademola Lookman and Super Falcons forward Toni Payne.

The tribute reflects Everton’s longstanding relationship with Nigerian football, which spans several generations of players.

Amokachi joined the Merseyside club in 1994 and helped it win the FA Cup in 1995. Yobo, who signed in 2002, became the first African to captain Everton, while Yakubu also enjoyed a productive spell at Goodison Park. Iwobi joined from Arsenal in 2019 and spent four seasons with the club.

Brentford also celebrated the anniversary, posting: “Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!” alongside images of three Nigerian players associated with the club: Sam Sodje, Frank Onyeka (now with Coventry City) and Benjamin Fredrick.

Sodje, a former Super Eagles defender, made 100 appearances for Brentford and scored 14 goals during his two-season spell at the club.

German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen joined the celebrations with the message: “🇳🇬 Happy Independence Day, Naija! 🇳🇬”

The club’s tribute featured Nigerian forwards Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, both of whom have represented the German side.

Nigeria celebrates its Independence Day annually on 1 October, commemorating the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960. Thursday’s celebration marks 66 years since the country became a sovereign nation.

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Tunde Eludini is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria where he studied International Relations. He is a Senior Correspondent coordinating the sports section for PREMIUM TIMES. Twitter: @tundeyeludini