Who are the Nigerians to have won the Carabao Cup?

Nigeria has a longstanding relationship with Britain due to its colonial history, but it extends beyond that.

Over the years, footballers from the West African nation have found their way into English football, with over 150 Nigerians featuring across the entire English pyramid.

We’ve seen them get decorated with titles across the pyramid: the Premier League, Championship, lower leagues and cup competitions.

With Arsenal taking on Manchester City on March 22nd, 2026, we are now going through history lane to see how many Nigerians have won the Carabao Cup, formerly known as the Carling Cup.

Which Nigerians have won the Carabao Cup?

Out of the over 150 Nigerians to have played in English football clubs, only three have won the Carabao Cup, formerly known as the Carling Cup.

1. John Obi Mikel (Chelsea)

Who are the Nigerians to have won the Carabao Cup? — Mikel Obi

No Nigerian is as successful as Mikel in this competition, winning it twice with Chelsea Football Club during his eleven-year stint with the London-based club.

The former Super Eagles captain, during his legendary career at Stamford Bridge, first had a taste of the silverware in 2007 when Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley.

Eight years later, during the 2014/2015 season, he was part of the squad that defeated London rivals Tottenham Hotspur two-nil in the final.

2. Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City)

As a teenager, Kelechi Iheanacho was a toast at City, with Manuel Pellegrini giving him his debut at 18 years of age against Watford in the Premier League.

During the 2015/2016 season, he was part of the Manchester City squad that defeated Liverpool on penalties.

Although Iheanacho didn’t feature in the final itself, his contributions in the earlier rounds (including a goal against Crystal Palace) earned him his medal.

The Celtic forward went on to make history as the youngest Nigerian to win the Carabao Cup at 19 years, 4 months and 25 days.

The previous record was held by Mikel Obi, who won it with Chelsea in 2007 at 19 years, 10 months and 3 days.

3. Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea)

The former Super Eagles left-back was the first Nigerian to truly leave a mark on the competition during Chelsea’s resurgence in the late ’90s.

In the 1997/1998 season, Babayaro was part of the squad that secured a two-nil win over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley.

Arsenal vs Man City betting trends

Arsenal and Manchester City will clash at Wembley Stadium on March 22, 2026, in the EFL Cup final. Nigerian punters do not have a Nigerian representation this weekend but will still get involved in the game.

Here are betting trends you need to take note of:

Arsenal boasts an 80 percent win rate in the EFL Cup and has won all of their last 6 home matches.
On the other hand, Manchester City has been in terrific form with 5 consecutive wins in the EFL Cup and 3 wins in their last 3 away league matches.
Interestingly, Arsenal has lost 100 percent of their last 4 head-to-head encounters in the EFL Cup against Manchester City.
Arsenal have suffered a defeat in their 4 most recent encounters with Manchester City (EFL Cup)
Their last 5 games in the EFL Cup have seen Manchester City win by 2 or more goals

Arsenal vs Man City Carabao Cup prediction

Arsenal’s control metrics and unbeaten stretch meet City’s capacity to create high value moments with fewer phases.

With the Gunners having not suffered defeat in 19 of their last 20 and City winless in their last 3 across all competitions, we lean toward a draw over 90 minutes.

Prediction: Draw at 36% probability, with a 1-1 scoreline.

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Toyosi Afolayan

Toyosi Afolayan is a Nigerian football writer and betting analyst with over 5 years of experience covering the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Professional Football League, and major European competitions. He specialises in match analysis, player performance trends, and betting-focused football insights.
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