Join the search for Nigeria's 50 greatest players

October 1 is a hugely significant date in Nigerian history and every year it is celebrated as the day independence was gained from British Imperial rule.

This year’s celebration is all the more special because it marks 50 years of nationhood. As SuperSport.com congratulates Nigeria and all Nigerians on this significant milestone, we are set to unveil the 50 greatest Nigerian players of all time - and we need your help.

Nigeria has been blessed with a massive pool of talent, almost always in abundant supply. It is therefore not easy to select only 50 players. Nigerians of various ages will remember different players from different decades.

In the years before independence, some talented Nigerians sailed to the UK in 1949. A team of barefoot magicians arrived at the port of Liverpool on a playing tour. On board were the greatest heroes of the time, whom many will only have heard of in folklore and oral tradition -- Etim Henshaw, Isaac Akioye, Dan Anyiam and the mythical Teslim “Thunder” Balogun.

The stories of the early days of Nigerian football were such that everyone heard about the fearsome shooting of Thunder Balogun. How those stories were distorted. In some tales he was said to have killed his brother, who was a goalkeeper. So many Nigerians will tell you different versions of that tale.

There is hardly any video footage but pictures tell a great story. In our quest to separate the men from the boys, we will rely on the tales and the eyewitness accounts. We will uncover the trickery, recapture some of the magic in prose and hopefully re-envision the immortals of the '60s and '70s. Some who will be named are long gone, others are still living in the shadows of the golden generations.

The current generation will remember Jay-Jay okocha,Sunday Oliseh,Stephen Keshi,Nwankwo Kanu,Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Rashidi Yekini and John Obi Mikel. Very few will remember Albert Onyeawuna, Elkanah Onyeali, Inua Rigogo,Tony Igwe,Haruna Ilerika,Jossy Dombraye,Godwin Iwelumo,Thomson Usiyen and Kunle Awesu.

People will remember Segun Odegbami and Adokiye Amiesimaka for being vocal,Chritian Chukwu and the likes of Joe Erico, Monday Sinclair and Sebastian Broderick as coaches. Few will remember their exploits, so comparism will be tough, but fear not as we will find the 50 iconic players through exhaustive research and objective thought.

Ordinarily, this would appear to be an easy task but to show how difficult this quest will be, you would have to be at least 60 years of age or older to have witnessed all the great players and teams that have captivated Nigerians over the last 50 years.

You would need to have experienced the magic moments, the triumphs, the agony of defeat, the ecstasy and the passion - all this in an era of limited-TV coverage. It seems all so different. Thanks to SuperSport’s world-class coverage of the Nigerian League today, you get to see so many teams and players in action, but it wasn’t always this rosy for fans.

Interestingly, TV was introduced to Nigerians one year before independence, in the old western region, by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Radio though played a major part in soothing the passion of Nigerians through the '70s to the '80s, when television improved, as did the newspapers and, most of all, oral traditions.

Nigerians can look back on a rich history of global triumphs, including four World Cup appearances, twice getting to the second round in '94 and '98 .They have won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, at home in 1980 and in Tunisia in 1994. They won an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta '96, silver in Beijing 2008, gold at the All Africa Games in 1973 and silver in 1978.

It is at the youth level that Nigeria has become a powerhouse, with the under-20s earning silver in 1989 and 2005 and bronze in 1985. The more successful under-17s earned three world titles in 1985,1993 and 2007 and silver medals in 2001 and 2009.

The women have also emerged from a slow introduction to the world stage in 1991 to make four World Cup appearances, reaching the quarterfinals in 1999 .They have won five out of six African Women’s Championships, two Olympic quarterfinals out of three and the Under-20 team earned silver just two months ago in Germany.

Nigerian club sides have always intrigued Africa, and while the honours may not abound, they have always been among the front runners. Famous clubs have won titles or lost in the finals including Enyimba, Rangers, IICC Shooting Stars(now 3SC), Bendel insurance and Leventis United. Throughout history iconic clubs, like Railways,Marine, Stationery Stores, Mighty Jets of Jos, Raccah Rovers,Sharks, Abiola Babes and Leventis United have held Nigerians spellbound. There were always great crowds and the reason was always the abundance of talent.

In the next three months, SuperSport.com will re-trace the footsteps of Nigeria’s greatest ball artists, the untold stories, and we will provide the fans an opportunity to share their own stories.

The 50th anniversary is a potent reminder for all Nigerians to once again reclaim their game. It is a reminder to support their teams and it is a chance to celebrate the many players who have made us happy at home and flown the country’s flag abroad.

Look out on the site for the chance to tell us who you think are the 50 greatest players that Nigeria has produced.