Nwankwo Kanu of Arsenal, Austin Okocha of Bolton and Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro have been chosen to receive the accolades.

Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba said each player will receive the Order of the Niger (OON) award for their contributions to Nigerian football.

All three players are established internationals and have been stalwarts in Nigeria's World Cup and Olympic sides.

In 2001, Amodu Shaibu was awarded a national honour after becoming the first Nigerian coach to guide the country to the World Cup finals.

A surprise name on the current honours list is the former Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur striker John Chiedozie.

The fleet footed Chiedozie played for the Green Eagles, as the Nigerian team was then known, in the early 1980's.