XtraTime Web Desk: Indian football has seen so many incredible African footballers to dominate over the years. Yusuf Yakubu, Mike Okoro, Uga Okpara, Dudu Omagbemi, Penn Orji, Sammy Omollo, Bello Rassaq, Suley Musah, Jackson Agapong, Opoku, Chidi Edeh, James Moga and so on. Hence, we tried to find the best three in terms of their impact, popularity and success. Though selections are entirely our personal and it might differ person to person.
Chima Okorie: The Nigerian goal-machine began to show his genius since the then Mohammedan Sporting Coach Shabbir Ali signed him for the Black Panthers. He then spent three years each at East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, scoring a total of 235 goals across all competitions in this period.
Okorie was indispensable in Mohun Bagan’s first NFL win in the 1997-98 season.
Ranti Martins: The undisputed king of the NFL/I-League for six seasons spread over 10 years, Ranti Martins is one the finest Africans to have played in not just India but across Asia. His domination in Indian football began in Dempo since 2004 and then in continued. He then represented clubs like Prayag Unitedand East Bengal after spending eight years with the most successful club in the history of I-League, Dempo Sports Club. He had always been a threat inside the box.
The prolific goal-scorer scored 198 goals in 213 matches across all clubs and competitions in Indian football. Ranti helped Dempo to win the NFL two times and I-League three times in the coaching of great Armando Colaco. He also won the Federation Cup in 2004. The goal-machine glorified his East Bengal career with two CFL titles between 2014-16. Ranti was awarded with the I-League foreigner of the year in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Odafa Okolie: The Nigerian superstar won the golden boot in the national league for four years in a row between 2006 and 2010 while in Churchill Brothers colours. He also represented Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan and Sporting Goa while in India.
Okolie won the I-League in the 2008-09 season and the Federation Cup twice (2007, 2009). He helped Mohun Bagan in winning so many derbies, scored goals everytime the Mariners needed.