Sports

ETIM ESIN: THE NIGERIAN “MARADONA” WHO NEVER REACHED HIS DESTINY

Published by admin on December 16th, 2025.

ETIM ESIN: THE NIGERIAN “MARADONA” WHO NEVER REACHED HIS DESTINY

Etim Esin was once one of the most gifted footballers Nigeria had ever seen. His skills were so rare that fans packed stadiums across the country just to watch him play. Long before highlight clips and social media, his magic on the ball spoke for itself. Many believed his natural ability even surpassed that of Austin “JJ” Okocha. Rising through Calabar Rovers, Esin earned a place in Nigeria’s squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup and was tipped for global stardom.

That promise changed in one careless moment. While in camp, Esin broke team rules and went out clubbing in Surulere, Lagos. On his way back, he was attacked by armed robbers and shot in the thigh. The injury shattered his World Cup dream and stalled his fast-rising career. Though injured, the football authorities treated him and still took him to the tournament, an unusual decision at the time. Nigeria struggled at the competition, but Esin’s talent was impossible to ignore.

He later broke into the Super Eagles and secured a professional move to Belgium, with the national team already being shaped around him. However, warnings from senior players, including Stephen Keshi, about life abroad and possible traps went unheeded. Soon after, Esin was accused of raping a minor, a charge so damaging that he fled Belgium to avoid prison, abandoning his contract and ending his European journey. The allegation closed the door to the national team and ruled him out of the USA ’94 World Cup.

Years later, the accusation was proven false, but by then the damage was beyond repair. His career had collapsed, and the opportunity he once held slipped away, creating space for others, including JJ Okocha, to rise and shine. Today, Etim Esin lives a quiet life in Akwa Ibom State, far from the spotlight. His story remains one of Nigerian football’s greatest “what could have been” tales—a painful reminder of how talent alone is never enough.