The 10 Nigeria players that Have scored hat-trick for Nigeria

The 10 Nigeria players that Have scored hat-trick for Nigeria[caption id="attachment_5411" align="alignnone" width="300"] Odion Ighalo in celebration mood[/caption] By Admin #1 BURAIMOH ABUDU: Buraimoh Abudu became the first national team player to bag a hattrick while on international duty. His three goals were among the many that blew away Dahomey, now Benin Republic 10-1 on November 8, 1959 in an Nkrumah Cup game played in Lagos. Other goals were accounted for by Daniel Okwudili, Dejo Fayemi, Albert Onyeawuna and Elkana Onyeali who was the star of the day netting in four goals. #2 PAUL HAMILTON: Six years after Buraimoh’s feat, Paul Hamilton popularly known as ‘Wonder Boy’ took turn to write his name in Nigeria’s football folklore as the second player to get a hat trick for the nation. Still fresh from a 5-0 massacre in the hands of the Ghanaian Black Stars in the semi final of the Nkrumah Cup four days earlier, Hamilton led the rejuvenated Green Eagles to feast on Senegal 4-0 in the third-place encounter of the tournament played on February 27, 1963. Ekpe Asuquo had shot the Jorge Pena-coached team ahead in the opening minutes of the game before pint-sized Wonder Boy made a mince meat of the Senegalese defence at the Accra Sports Stadium. #3 CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUKADIBIA'BOBO MORDI': After making a scoring debut for the Green Eagles, Mordi stepped up his game in his second outing for Nigeria in an international friendly against Gabon, in Libreville. The match played on August 29, 1965 saw the Panthers lose scandalously 4-1 before their home fans even as Paul Hamilton completed the rout. #4 THOMPSON USIYEN: In a capacity-filled National Stadium in Lagos, Benin Republic got an embarrassing Valentine’s Day gift as they were mauled 7-0 in an international friendly played on February 14, 1977. Thompson Usiyen, who had now become a regular in the senior national team, put the ball past the Beninois goalkeeper three times. In the same game, Godwin Iwelimo justified coach Jelisavic Tihomir ‘s trust in him by getting a goal on his debut for the Green Eagles. #5 SEGUN ODEGBAMI: One of the greatest wingers to have come out of the country, Odegbami too added his name on this list of celebrated footballers when he got his 10th, 11th and 12thinternational goals against Benin Republic in the qualifying series of the third All Africa Games. Played on January 14, 1978 in Lagos, ‘Mathematical’ proved too hot to be handled by the neighbours. In the same game, Adokiye Amesiamaka got a brace for his impressive displays while skipper Christian Chukwu and Godwin Odiye also got their names on the scorers' sheet. #6 RASHEED YEKINI: The gangling 'Goals Father' became the sixth Nigerian player to bag a hat trick on international duty when the Super Eagles crushed Ethiopia 6-0 in the last qualifying match of the Tunisia 1994 Cup of Nations hosted in Lagos on July 14, 1993. Barnabas Imenger, Nduka Ugbade scored one each as goalkeeper Peter Rufai got his only international goal from the penalty spot. #7 VICTOR IKPEBA: Victor Ikpeba’s three goals helped the Super Eagles to deal with a stubborn Namibian team 4-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The goals were his first after he last found the back of the net for the country against Tunisia in the Ghana/Nigeria Nations Cup. Pascal Ojigwe added the fourth goal in the closing stages of the encounter. The match was played on September 2, 2000. #8 IKECHUKWU UCHE: After 13 years of waiting for another hat trick hero, Ikechukwu Uche came calling with three great goals against a Portuguese second division side, Farense in a test match played in Faro on January 15, 2013. The match was played under closed doors to ensure the Stephen Keshi-tutoured side got maximum concentration for their Nations Cup outing in South Africa. Emmanuel Emenike and John Mikel Obi’s penalty kick completed a 5-0 roasting of the Portuguese club side.(not really a FIFA pro match) #9 NNAMDI ODUAMADI: Nnamdi Oduamadi included his name among the pantheon of greats with his treble against Tahiti in a Fifa Confederation Cup game in 2013. The Super Eagles ran riot in Belo Horizonte with a predictably facile 6-1 victory over a game but painfully limited Tahiti side. Oduamadi helped himself to a hat-trick, Uwa Echiejile struck twice with two deflected efforts, while Jonathan Tehau also put through his own net. Odion Ighalo: Odion Ighalo who bagged his first hat trick for Super Eagles against Libya on Saturday 13th October, 2018 in the Match-day 3 of the 2019 African Nations cup qualifier. Ighalo who has been criticised by Nigerians following his poor form at the 2018 world cup in Russia silenced his critics with the hat trick. He becomes the tenth Nigeria player to score three goals in a single match.