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)
