Former Super Eagles and Chelsea star, Mikel John Obi has issued a stern warning to footballers of Nigerian descent who ply their trade abroad, stating that Nigeria is not a second option.
Obi made this known in a video posted on Friday morning while appearing on his The Obi One Podcast show.
Obi, who recently interviewed his former coach, Carlo Ancelotti, opined that any football talent of Nigerian or African descent should never treat the country or continent of their roots as a second option.
Obi said, “I’ve talked so much about players not representing their African roots. We’ve held meetings with these kids, with their parents and said, ‘Listen, you are Nigerian, your dad is Nigeria, your mum is Nigerian, why don’t you represent your fatherland, Nigeria? We wanna play for England, France, whatever is, and then they wait, and then they keep waiting and keep waiting.
“When they get to 25 or 26 and they don’t get a call up from England then they call Nigeria. We shouldn’t be treated as second options. We’re not second options. You should be proud of your African roots, you should be proud to represent your African country.”
The imprint of Nigerian footballers is scattered across the globe, with a notable diaspora of talent spanning various continents. From the elite leagues in Europe to emerging competitions in Asia and the Americas, Nigerian players are distinguished by their presence and influence.
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Prominent figures include Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman in Italy’s Serie A, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Calvin Bassey, amongst others in the English Premier League, and Samuel Chukwueze in Spain’s La Liga. This international dispersion highlights Nigeria’s robust football development system and the global recognition of its players’ skills and versatility, further cementing their role in the world of football.
Punch Metro reported that several Nigerian talents including Jamal Musiala, David Alaba, Eberechi Eze, and Manchester United’s new strike, Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee, who ply their trade with the top guns in European football like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, including Mancher CIty’s Manuel Akanji, amongst others, were on display at the recently concluded EURO 2024 tournament won by Spain.
ESPN Africa reported that the only Black athletes representing Japan in men’s football at the 2024 Olympics, goalkeeper Leo Kokubo and midfielder Joel Chima Fujita, who are both signed to Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden at club level were born in Japan to Nigerian fathers and Japanese mothers.
However, there have been a number of sought-after Nigerian-borns who are flying the flags of other countries other than Nigeria. The likes of Tammy Abraham, Carlton Cole, John Fashanu, Fikayo Tomori, Dele Alli, and Michael Olise could be listed as some big mises for the Super Eagles.
There was also the case of David Alaba, who was rumoured to have alleged that the coaches of the Golden Eaglets denied him a spot on the Nigerian squad for the 2007 FIFA World Cup in South Korea due to his refusal to pay bribes. the former Bayern Munich star has reportedly denied the reports.
Regardless, Obi stated that he wants the best African talents to represent Africa.
He emphasized that those who opt for developed countries over African nations should remain committed to their decision. They should not expect to return and seek to play for Nigeria after being overlooked by their first-choice country and reaching the later stages of their career.
“I want the best players to play in Africa, so you rather make a decision and stand by it. If you decide you want to play for England, stick to it, sit and wait. If you don’t get a call-up, you don’t get a call-up but don’t wait until 29, 30, you’ve passed your best or whatever it is, then you’re ‘Oh, Nigerian FA, I’m ready to play for you now’ No, f**k off mate.”
