Super Eagles' home Nigeria ranked 8th in world footballer exports, surpasses Ghana, South Africa & Cameroon

Nigeria has cemented its status as Africa’s premier football talent factory, ranking eighth in the world for exporting professional footballers, according to the latest CIES Football Observatory report. 

The Super Eagles’ homeland outpaces African rivals Ghana, South Africa, and Cameroon, as well as global heavyweights such as Portugal and Italy.

According to the report, between 2020 and 2025, Nigeria exported 2,324 players, averaging more than 387 footballers per year. 

As of 2025, Nigeria boasts 926 distinct expatriates playing across 135 leagues worldwide, with a record 500 players moving abroad in 2025 alone, the highest annual figure for the country since 2020.

This remarkable growth places Nigeria among the top ten footballer-exporting nations, a list dominated by Brazil (3,020 expatriates), France (2,293), and Argentina (2,171). 

Other countries in the top ten include England, Spain, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Colombia, and Nigeria, the only African nation in this elite group.

Nigeria’s closest African competitors are Ghana (677 expatriates), who face the Super Eagles in London, Senegal (511), Ivory Coast (484), and Cameroon (327), all trailing the Super Eagles by a significant margin. 

The report spotlighted Nigeria’s sustained increase in exports, with a rise of 181 expatriates since 2020, noting the country’s growing influence in the global football market.

The CIES report tracks the migration of players based on where they developed their football skills, offering insight into the global flow of talent. 

Nigeria’s footballers are now a familiar presence in leagues across Europe, Asia, and beyond, reflecting both the country’s rich talent pool and its growing reputation as a springboard for professional careers.

Nigeria’s 8th-place global ranking as a football exporter not only reaffirms its dominance in Africa but also the country’s significant contribution to the international football landscape.

It has outperformed traditional footballing nations and confirming its status as a true powerhouse for talent development.