Two former Nigerian internationals, Femi Opabunmi and Bartholomew Ogbeche, rank among the 10 youngest players ever to appear at the FIFA World Cup, joining legendary Brazilian forward Pelé on a prestigious list of teenage prodigies who graced football's biggest stage before reaching adulthood.
Just a year after announcing himself on the global stage at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, former Shooting Stars forward Femi Opabunmi became the third-youngest player in World Cup history.
He was 17 years and 101 days old when he started Nigeria's goalless draw against England on June 12, 2002.
Opabunmi's promising career was later cut short by an eye condition that deteriorated into glaucoma, ultimately leaving him blind in one eye and forcing him into early retirement.
Sixth on the all-time list is former Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Bartholomew Ogbeche, who also featured at the 2002 World Cup.
The forward made his tournament debut against Argentina at the age of 17 years and 244 days, just nine days older than Brazilian icon Pelé was when he first appeared at the competition.
The youngest player in World Cup history remains former Northern Ireland attacking midfielder Norman Whiteside, whose record has stood unchallenged for 44 years.
Other Africans to feature in the top 10 include Cameroonian legends Samuel Eto'o, Salomon Olembé and Rigobert Song, all of whom represented the Indomitable Lions on football's grandest stage while still in their teens.
Top 10 youngest players in World Cup history
1. Norman Whiteside – Northern Ireland vs Yugoslavia (17 June 1982) – 17 years, 41 days old
2. Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon vs Italy (17 June 1998) – 17 years, 99 days old
3. Femi Opabunmi – Nigeria vs England (12 June 2002) – 17 years, 101 days old
4. Salomon Olembé – Cameroon vs Austria (11 June 1998) – 17 years, 185 days old
5. Pelé – Brazil vs USSR (15 June 1958) – 17 years, 235 days old
6. Bartholomew Ogbeche – Nigeria vs Argentina (2 June 2002) – 17 years, 244 days old
7. Rigobert Song – Cameroon vs Sweden (20 June 1994) – 17 years, 354 days old
8. Youssoufa Moukoko – Germany vs Japan (23 November 2022) – 18 years, 3 days old
9. Carvalho Leite – Brazil vs Bolivia (20 July 1930) – 18 years, 25 days old
10. Garang Kuol – Australia vs France (22 November 2022) – 18 years, 68 days old
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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