Nigeria Top 50 Youngsters (40- 36) : Skillful Maja, Shodipo, Midfielder Being Tracked By Arsenal, Versatile Awaziem Make List

In continuation of allnigeriasoccer.com Top 50 Nigerian youngsters, we reveal numbers 40-36. All players yet to celebrate their 24th birthday are eligible to appear on the list.

40) Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers )
Age : 19
Market Value : €1,500,000
Comments : This season has been a fantastic one for Mide. He made his debut for Queens Park Rangers a month after he celebrated his 19th birthday. The winger has all the qualities needed to succeed as a professional - pacy, skillful and has a good attitude.

Though he has represented the Republic of Ireland youth teams, his parents want him to play for the Super Eagles in future.

39) Josh Maja (Sunderland)
Age : 17
Market Value : €800,000
Comments : Another player eligible to represent Nigeria destined to be invited to the youth teams of England in the near future if the attacker can keep his fit on the ground.

Maja is confident shrugging off defenders with his array of technical and dribbling skills. Represented Man City, Crystal Palace and Fulham before he was snapped up by Sunderland. Has played for the first team of the Black Cats in a competitive game.

38) Nansel Selbol ( Sporting Kansas City, USA)
Age : 19
Market Value : €400,000
Comments : The attacking midfielder has been tipped for stardom by two Super Eagles legends, Samson Siasia and Joseph Yobo. The former ran the rule over Selbol at the Nigeria U23s get-together and considered taking him as part of his squad for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Now, this is classified information. It is known that a well respected representative of Arsenal is monitoring his progress in the United States with a view to bringing him to the Emirates.

37) Chidozie Awaziem ( FC Porto, Portugal)
Age : 19
Market Value : €1,500,000
Comments : Chidozie was discovered by coach Ajibi of Junior El Kanemi, Jos at the age of seven. Originally a midfielder but was converted to a central defender when he arrived at Porto.

In truth, he wasn’t known to be a good tackler while in Nigeria and his recent shift to defense shows how Porto have managed his development. Would have ranked higher but recently lost his place in the first team and was not called up for the Super Eagles last fixture.

36) Manuel Akanji ( FC Basel, Switzerland)
Age : 21
Market Value : €1,500,000
Comments : The 2015-2016 season would have been a breakthrough season for Akanji until he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the second half of the campaign.

Akanji is something like a throwback. He is a traditional central defender, physical, agile and good header of the ball.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel