Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Burkina Faso - Bertrand Traoré

 He made his debut for the senior national team at the age of 15

11 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Nigeria - Victor Osimhen

He is known for his physical presence, athleticism, strength, directness

9 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Congo DR - Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Spider-Man tackling skills

8 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Morocco - Achraf Hakimi 

African Player of the Year 2025

7 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Morocco - Brahim Diaz

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 - Top Scorer

3 Feb 2026
Stars in Europe - Keyplayer - Egypt - Mo Salah

Salah is the all-time top African goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.

31 Jan 2026
2025 AFRICA CUP - How Senegal Produces Football Talent

How Senegal produces football talents

28 Jan 2026
2025 AFRICA CUP - Sadio Mane named best player of the tournament

Africa Cup Of Nations 2025 | Full Awards List

23 Jan 2026
2025 AFRICA CUP - Thierry Henry's Feedback

Henry praised the tournament for showcasing an impressive blend of technical brilliance and collective team strength

21 Jan 2026

NATIONAL TEAM - Nigeria - Lukman Haruna hopeful over World Cup prospects

Overlooked by predecessor Samson Siasia and current manager Stephen Keshi, Haruna is confident he has done enough at club level to remain in the coach's World Cup thoughts.

"I understand my injury history had a role to play for a period of time but I'm in great shape right now," Haruna told BBC Sport.

"It's not an easy job for a coach to manage Nigeria with a lot of quality players in Europe, Asia and Africa.

"I just hope I've done enough at club level to be given a chance to fight for a place in the squad."

With the Ukrainian league season kicking off amid chaos in the country, Haruna has not given up hope of going to Brazil in the summer.

"When I played in South Africa I was very young and a little inexperienced," he said.

"Since then there have been highs and lows in my career but I'm more mature and hope to fulfil a dream by working extra hard to earn a recall.

"It's a massive two months for me to prove myself again because if it goes well then I'll have another chance."

The midfielder scored three goals in 15 league appearances for Dynamo Kiev last season and has a solitary goal in seven appearances for the African champions.

Haruna is one of only two players to have represented Nigeria at the Fifa under-17, U-20 and senior World Cups.

His European career began in France when he joined AS Monaco in 2007 shortly after he captained Nigeria to the Under-17 World Cup title in South Korea.

He signed for Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev in June 2011 after completing a US$2.8 million switch from Monaco.
 

16 Mar 2014
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

Related countries

Related articles