The red and gold of San Francisco have never represented Nigerian excellence more powerfully. As the 2025 NFL season unfolds in the Bay Area, California’s vibrant Nigerian diaspora community rallies behind two exceptional players who bring the resilience and warrior spirit of our homeland to Levi’s Stadium.
Sam Okuayinonu (#91, DT) stands as the embodiment of Nigerian perseverance and the American Dream realized. Of Liberian and Nigerian descent, Okuayinonu’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, he fled his war-torn homeland with his family at age 12, settling in Lowell, Massachusetts. The pronunciation “oh-kwu-AHN-new” has become a battle cry across the Bay Area, but it’s the deeper meaning that truly inspires—his mother’s middle name “Deakonti” tattooed on his right forearm, meaning “Everything has time” in the Bassa language, perfectly captures his remarkable journey.
What makes Okuayinonu’s story particularly compelling is his late start to football. A devoted soccer player who “quite hated football” when first introduced to it junior year of high school, he quit three or four games into the season. After re-signing with the 49ers on March 26, 2025, via exclusive rights tender, Okuayinonu has emerged as San Francisco’s top edge rusher off the bench, tied for third on the team with three sacks. His career-best 2024 season featured 35 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 games—proving that Nigerian persistence pays dividends.
Malik Mustapha (#6, SAF) represents the next generation of Nigerian excellence, proudly carrying the nickname “Nigerian Missile.” Born June 25, 2002, of Nigerian descent, Mustapha was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a stellar career at Wake Forest. Just activated from the PUP list after recovering from an ACL injury, he returns having recorded 72 tackles, an interception, and five passes defensed during his impressive rookie campaign in 2024.
Together, these warriors represent more than athletic achievement—they’re ambassadors of Nigerian resilience across Northern California.
Bang Bang Niner Gang, Naija Strong!