Everton and other European clubs mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day
Everton, Brentford and Bayer Leverkusen have published Independence Day messages celebrating Nigeria and highlighting players linked to the country. Everton’s tribute featured several current and former Nigerian internationals, while Brentford and Leverkusen also referenced Nigerian footballers associated with their clubs.
European football clubs including Everton, Brentford and Bayer Leverkusen have joined Nigerians in marking the country’s 66th Independence Day with messages celebrating their links to Nigerian football. Everton led the tributes with a graphic in Nigeria’s green and white colours and the message, “Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!” The artwork featured former Super Eagles players Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe and Alex Iwobi, as well as Ademola Lookman and Super Falcons forward Toni Payne. The selection reflected the different generations of Nigerian players who have represented Everton.
Amokachi joined the Merseyside club in 1994 and helped it win the FA Cup in 1995. Yobo signed for Everton in 2002 and became the first African to captain the club, while Yakubu also had a productive spell there. Iwobi joined Everton from Arsenal in 2019 and spent four seasons with the club.
Lookman and Payne were also included in the club’s celebratory design, according to Premium Times. Brentford posted its own message, “Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!”, alongside images of Sam Sodje, Frank Onyeka and Benjamin Fredrick. Onyeka is now with Coventry City, while Sodje is a former Super Eagles defender.
Sodje made 100 appearances for Brentford and scored 14 goals during a two-season spell at the club, the report said. German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen also marked the occasion with the message, “Happy Independence Day, Naija!” Its tribute featured Nigerian forwards Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, who have represented the club. Nigeria celebrates Independence Day on 1 October, commemorating independence from British colonial rule in 1960.
Thursday’s observance marked 66 years since the country became sovereign.
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