AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #75: Nigeria's National Football Team

We've all thought about what our favorite footballers do as they prepare to defend their club or country.

We've all seen the live TV images of players walking down the tunnel into packed stadiums around the world with their headphones on, dead-focused on the match ahead.

It made us wonder: what songs do these players listen to as they get ready for the big game?

The answer—well, the Nigerian answer—lies in this new installment of our mixtape series Africa In Your Earbuds.

For these special selections, we asked Nigerian football stars John Obi Mikel, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho to share the tracks they listen to as they get ready to take the field to represent the Super Eagles or one of their elite Premier League clubs.

Nigeria's captain John Obi Mikel, a veteran of the national team and Chelsea F.C., threw us a bit of a curveball by revealing that his favorite song currently is Sia's "The Greatest" featuring Kendrick Lamar. He also told us that he's a fan of Tekno's "Wash," Desiigner and Drake.

Arsenal winger and forward Alex Iwobi, who elected to represent Nigeria over England internationally last year, shares that his go-to tracks are Wizkid's "Murder" featuring Wale, Banky W's "Yes/No," and Duncan Mighty's "Obianuju." On top of those Nigerian bangers, he regularly bumps hits from French Montana, Fat Joe, and Tory Lanez.

Lastly, striking talent Kelechi Iheanacho, a rising force up top for the Super Eagles and Manchester City, told us that he plays P-Square, Flavour, Yemi Alade, Kcee, and, even, Celine Dion.

Check out all of the selections from these Nigerian stars in AIYE #75: Nigeria's National Football Team above— expertly mixed by DJ/producer Kashaka—and see Mikel, Iwobi and Iheanacho's track list below.

The mix is the first in a group of special articles Okayafrica will be releasing, in partnership with Nike, to promote the 2016 Nigerian National Football team and its new kits as part of our #NaijaBrilliance campaign.

AIYE #75: Nigeria's National Football Team Track List

Tekno “Pana"

Wizkid ft. Wale “Murder"

Banky W “Yes/No"

Duncan Mighty “Obianuju"

Flavour “To Be A Man"

P-Square ft. J Martins “E No Easy"

Tekno “Pana"

P-Square ft. 2face “Possibilities"

Kcee “Limpopo"

Yemi Alade feat. Selebobo“Na Gode"

Tekno “Wash"

Splash ft. Charass “Onye?"

Wizkid “No Lele"

Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar “The Greatest"

Fat Joe “All The Way Up"

French Montana “Drink Freely"

Wale ft. Neyo “White Linen"

Drake ft. PartyNextDoor “With You"

Drake ft. Wizkid “One Dance"

Yxng Bane ft. Kojo Funds “Fine Wine"

Duncan Mighty “Hand of Jesus"

Desiigner “Panda"

Tory Lanez “Luv"

MIST “Ain't The Same"

Celine Dion “I'm Alive"