Nigeria is a country blessed with immense talents, especially in football. While the likes of Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, John Mikel Obi, Osaze Odewindge and many more have donned the colours of the Super Eagles, some others decided to ply their trade in countries other than the one of their origin.
Below are some players who could have represented Nigeria but opted not to.
David Olatokunbo Alaba
Born to a Filipino mother and Nigerian father, the Bayern Munich man chose to represent Austria at the senior level, making his international debut at the age of 17.
Club – Bayern Munich (Germany)
Country – Austria
National team caps – 48
Ross Barkley
A midfielder who plays for Premier League club Everton and the English national team, Barkley’s family tree has a Nigerian grandfather in the mix. This meant he was eligible to play for the Super Eagles, though the 22-year-old opted to represent the Three Lions of England instead.
Club – Everton (England)
Country – England
National team caps – 22
Sidney Sam
The German man plays his football for Schalke 04. Born in Germany to a German mother and Nigerian father, Sidney Sam decided to represent his country of birth.
Club – Schalke 04 (Germany)
Country – Germany
National team caps – 5
Ikechi Anya
Anya currently plays his international football for Scotland and club football for Derby County. Anya was eligible to play for Nigeria – thanks to having a Nigerian father – and for Romania – his mother is from there – but he decided to play for Scotland where he was born.
Club – Derby County (England)
Country – Scotland
National team caps – 21
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor
The Togolese professional who is currently a free agent, previously played for Metz, Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. He recently saw a potential move to French club, Olympique Lyon collapse at the last moment.
Adebayor was born in Togo to Nigerian parents.
Club – Free agent
Country – Togo
National team caps – 66
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Agbonlahor, who plays his football for Championship side Aston Villa, was born in Birmingham to a Nigerian father and Scottish mother.
His origins qualify him to play for either Nigeria or Scotland, but he decided to represent the Three Lions of England.
Club – Aston Villa (England)
Country – England
National team caps – 3
Angelo Ogbonna
The Italian footballer was born to Nigerian parents who moved to Italy in 1983, five years before his birth.
He currently plays his football in the English Premier League with West Ham United and represented Italy at the 2016 European Championship.
Club – West Ham United (England)
Country – Italy
National team caps – 13
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