Everton Celebrate Nigeria@66 with Amokachi, Aiyegbeni, Yobo, other Stars

Premier League club Everton have joined Nigerians in celebrating the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary with a striking graphic featuring some of the Nigerian players who have represented the club.

The English club shared the Nigeria-themed artwork on its social media platforms on Thursday, October 1, as Nigeria marked 66 years of independence from British colonial rule.

The graphic, dominated by Nigeria’s green and white colours, carries the bold inscription “Nigeria” and “Independence Day”, with images of Nigerian footballers associated with Everton.

Everton have a long-standing connection with Nigerian football, having fielded several Super Eagles and Super Falcons players over the years.

Among those associated with the club are former Nigeria internationals Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe and Alex Iwobi, while Ademola Lookman and Toni Payne have also represented the club.

Data compiled by FBref lists nine players who have represented both Everton and Nigeria, adding Henry Onyekuru, Hope Akpan and Coby Ebere to the names above.

Amokachi was Everton’s first African player, joining the club in 1994 and helping them win the FA Cup in 1995.

His two goals in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur remain among the memorable moments of his Everton career.

Yobo subsequently became a key figure at the club after joining in 2002 and was the first African player to captain Everton, according to Goal.

Yakubu also enjoyed a prolific spell at Goodison Park, while Anichebe came through Everton’s youth system before establishing himself in the senior side.

Iwobi joined Everton from Arsenal in 2019 and spent four seasons with the club.

The club’s latest Independence Day gesture continues a relationship that has seen Everton regularly acknowledge Nigeria on October 1.

In 2019, Everton marked Nigeria’s Independence Day with a graphic featuring Amokachi, Yobo, Anichebe, Yakubu and then-new signing Iwobi. PUNCH reported at the time that the club’s graphic brought together Nigerian players from its past and present.

Everton also posted “Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!” in 2022 as foreign football clubs joined Nigerians in marking the country’s 62nd anniversary.

Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, making Thursday’s celebration the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Federal Government declared the day a public holiday, PUNCH Online reported.