Toledo, Ohio - With a population estimated at nearly 200 million people, Nigeria has just about everything. The economic engine of western Africa, Nigeria is a major producer of petroleum, cocoa beans and gold, products that wind up in just about every country in the world. However, in recent years one special Nigerian export has had just one destination--football players bound for the United States.
Since 1987 when running back Christian Okoye was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, 50 Nigerian-born players have made it to the NFL. Seven were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.