Share
…ranked world’s 12th most expensive team
By: Ebenezer Bajela.
In the last financial rankings of national teams for the year released by transfermarkt, Super Eagles witnessed a massive rise in the squad market value, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The rise in the squad market value saw the three-time African champions move up one step and now ranked the 12th most valuable international team globally, while also cementing its position in Africa as the most financially valuable team on the continent.
The Eagles boast players who ply their trade in Europe’s lucrative leagues, making them one of the world’s most valuable teams, with a total value of €465.90m, which, according to the official rate on Tuesday, amounts to N465bn.
In October, they were placed 13th with a market value of €451.60m.
The Nigerian squad’s value witnessed an increase of €14.3m compared to the squad’s previous value.
The inclusion of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nathan Tella and the recent outstanding performances of some of the Eagles players for their various club sides contributed to the massive rise in the squad market value.
Tella, who made his debut for the national team against Zimbabwe, has a market value of €23m.
Newly crowned Africa Player of The Year, Victor Osimhen, who according to transfermarkt has a market value of €120m, is Nigeria’s most expensive player with his value worth almost a quarter of the entire Eagles squad, with his transfer value eclipsing that of every other member of the national team.
Leverkusen sensation Boniface, who is worth €40m, is the team’s second most expensive player.
In-form Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, is another player who contributed to the increase in the Eagles’ market value as he is currently ranked the third most valuable player in the squad with a market value of €30m.
Injury to Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi saw the player’s value drop from €30m to €28m, the same value as Fulham star, Alex Iwobi, with both players ranking as Eagles’ joint fourth most expensive player.
While Samuel Chukwueze and Terem Moffi maintained their €25m valuation, players like Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Jordan Torunarigha and Frank Onyeka saw little rise in their market values.
Among all the four goalkeepers included in the squad by transfermarkt, Maduka Okoye is the only keeper that hit the million valuation.
The Udinese goalkeeper has a market value of €2m compared to Francis Uzoho and Adebayo Adeleye, who both have €500,000 and €400,000 valuations respectively.
Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke has no valuation, according to the website.
The increase in some of the players’ value put together helped the Eagles move up to 12th place globally, while also ranking as the most valuable team on the continent.
Morocco are another team that enjoyed a massive rise in their squad value, moving from the previous €326.05m valuation to €350.80m to cement their second position in Africa and 13th globally.
Ivory Coast are third in Africa and 15th globally with a value of €340.58m, a €25.5m from their previous €315.08m.
Senegal remain fourth on the continent with a value of €266m but a drop in Algeria’s squad value saw Ghana (€285m)climb above the North Africans to fifth position.
Despite the drop in their value, England retain their position as the most financially valuable team in the world with a market value of €1.15bn compared to their previous €1.37bn, while Brazil climbed to second position with €1.09bn squad value.
France (€1.05bn), Portugal (€922m) and Spain (€837m) complete the top five national teams in the world.