Since the inception of international football, players, including Nigerians, have switched countries based on ancestry, upbringing, or naturalisation. Several players have switched allegiance to Nigeria after playing for another country in youth grade soccer due to their ties with the nation through parents or grandparents. This includes popular names like Victor Moses, Troost Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Joseph Aribo, and Ademola Lookman.
Currently, there are many footballers of Nigerian descent globally who could benefit the Super Eagles. Some have expressed interest, while others haven’t been contacted by the Nigerian Football Federation. Here are ten potential additions and their whereabouts.
Ebere Eze
Given the desperate need for a playmaker and creative midfielder in the Super Eagles, skilled midfielder Ebere Eze is one player in particular that Nigeria needs. Born Eberechi Oluchi Eze in England to Nigerian parents in 1998, the flamboyant player has been in a tussle between playing for England or Nigeria. In an effort to convince Eze to switch his allegiance to Nigeria, Amaju Pinnick, the former leader of the Nigerian Football Federation, met with him in 2019.
Though still young, Eze has had a great rise in his football career. Having started his football career at Arsenal, he was released at age thirteen and went on to play for Fulham, Reading, Millwall, and Queen Park Rangers. Eze, who enjoyed success in the English Championship, agreed to a five-year deal with Crystal Palace on August 28, 2020, for a reported fee of £17 million.
The NFF hasn’t relented in their effort to convince Eze to switch his allegiance after he has featured for England in all age-group competitions. Interestingly, Eze could have made his England’s debut when he got his first England team call-up in May 2021; however he got injured during training. This could be a blessing in disguise for Nigeria, which will be a great addition to the Super Eagles.
Michael Olise
Pace, stealth dribbles, crisp passes, guile, a high work rate, shooting, and creativity are some of the words that describe this young sensation who has lit up the English Premier League. Michael Akpovie Olise has caught the eye of not only top Premier League teams but also four countries he can represent as a player due to his ancestry. Olise was born in England to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, and so is eligible to represent Nigeria, France, Algeria, or England.
Despite representing France at the youth level, he has never been called up by the national team. In fact, it was Nigeria that showed the keenest interest in him when he was named as a standby for the Nigeria squad taking part in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho in March 2021.
After being named interim national team coach the previous year, Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke travelled to the UK to try to persuade Olise to abandon his birth country in favour of the fatherland.
One of the attributes that makes him stand out compared to other wingers in the Super Eagles is his ability to strike the ball very well. This was seen when he scored a late free-kick for his club, Crystal Palace, against Manchester United in January 2023. The lanky winger brings back to mind one of the Super Eagles’ greats, Osaze Odemwinge, with the way he moves the ball in a sleek manner.
Destiny Udogie
Iyenoma Destiny Udogie is already a name on the lips of the Italian FA, who see the lad as one for the future Azzuri team. At 20 years of age, Udogie is already a youth international for Italy, having featured at all age levels for the Italians. He currently plays for the Italian U21 team, where he has made six appearances.
Udogie burst into the limelight as a 17 year old when he made his Serie A debut for his club, Hellas Verona. Udinese snapped him up in 2021, making his loan move permanent before English Premier League giants Tottenham signed him in 2022, although he is still at Udinese on loan for the rest of the season. The 20 year old who can play at left back, left wing back, and left wing is one of the most talented young players in world football, and Nigeria wouldn’t want to miss out on such a talent.
Nathan Tella
A contender for EFL player of the season, Nathan Tella has found life in Burnley successful during a successful loan in the English Championship. Born Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella to Nigeria parents in England, the attacking midfielder has spent all his formative years in England. After spending ten years at Arsenal, coming through their ranks, the 23 years old moved to the South of England in 2017.
A loan to Burnley was needed in the summer of 2022/2023 season and the technically gifted attacker has taken the league by force. With 17 goals from 34 appearances so far for Burnley, Tella is a player with the Super Eagles of Nigeria and a switch allegiance will be very much welcome.
Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee is a young footballer who plays as a striker for Bologna FC in Italy. The former Bayern Munich prospect was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch footballer and a Nigerian mother and has represented the Netherlands at youth level. He has played for the country’s U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, and U21 teams, scoring 21 goals in 34 games. At club level, he has scored 21 goals in 65 top-flight games.
As young as he is, he has many laurels in his cabinet. He has won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup (twice), UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup, all with Bayern Munich between 2019 and 2022.
Noah Bazee
Noah Sarenren Bazee is eligible to play for both Nigeria and Germany. Born in Germany, Noah’s father is a Nigerian and his mother German. The fast-paced winger was approached by Nigeria in 2017 by former head coach Gernot Rohr and was named in the Nigeria squad for a friendly match against Senegal and Burkina Faso. He has finally been cleared to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria by FIFA should he get an invite from the National team.
The 26 year old right winger currently plays for German top flight club, FC Augsburg.
Noah Ohio
Noah Chidiebere Anyawu Ohio is another player eligible to play for Nigeria. The forward was born in Almere, Netherlands, to Nigerian parents but moved to England at a young age, where he developed his football career. Despite playing for Manchester City at academy level, Noah moved to Germany to join the youth team of RB Leipzig before going on loan to Dutch side, Vitesse.
In 2022, he made a permanent move to Belgian Pro League giants, Standard Liege and has found his feet with the club, having made 17 appearances and scoring 2 goals and 4 assists. Noah has represented the Netherlands at the youth level and will hopefully get a call from Nigeria soon.
Chuba Akpom
At this stage, one would have thought that Chuba Akpom would have made his debut for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, considering how very talented he is and the fact that he has announced his switch of allegiance to Nigeria. Akpom has taken the English Championship by storm and is said to be the league’s best player, with 24 goals in 31 appearances, becoming the first Middlesbrough player to score 20 goals in a season.
Born Chuba Amechi Akpom to Nigerian parents in England, the 27 years old has played for Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton, PAOK and a host of English sides. He was a key player for England’s U16, U17 and U21 sides, scoring many goals for them. Akpom has some honours to his names such as two FA Cup wins with Arsenal (2013-2014, 2014-2015), Super League Winner and Greek Cup winner with PAOK in Greece (2018-2019), Greek Cup MVP (2018-2019), etc.
A player that can play as a striker, a supporting striker or behind the striker, such versatility and experience is much needed by the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Tosin Adarabioyo
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have struggled for some time now to replace many great defenders and if there is a player who can bring back the glory days in defence, it is Tosin Adarabioyo. Born Abdul-Nasir Oluwatosin Oluwadoyinsolami Adarabioyo on the 24th of September 1997 at Manchester, England, the 6 ft 5 centre has really impressed since starting his professional career with Manchester City football club. He became the youngest player ever to represent Man City at a UEFA Champions League match at the age of 19.
Due to the star studded Man City team, a run of game time was needed and Tosin had successful loans at West Brom and Blackburn Rovers before making a permanent transfer to Premier League side Fulham. He has become a mainstay in Fulham as they push for qualification for European club competition.
On the international scene, Tosin has represented England at the U17, U18 and U19 teams. He has his desires to play for either Nigeria or England and it remains if the Nigerian Football Federation will seize this opportunity in securing him.
Noni Madueke
Madueke is a physically strong left-footed creative winger with energetic runs and dribbles that torments defenders. The 21 years old was born in England to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent, but spent his teenage years in the Netherlands. He currently plays for Chelsea football club of England, after making the switch from PSV Eindhoven where Madueke has become fans favourite. He registered an impressive 20 goals and 14 assists in 80 games for the dutch giants.
The winger has represented England at all youth levels and is currently part of their U21 squad. Noni Madueke has described Cristiano Ronaldo as his idol. With the large pool of talents in the English National team, the NFF can leverage on this to convince Madueke to switch allegiance to his country of descent. It would be a fantastic addition considering that Samuel Chukwueze is the only left footed winger in the Super Eagles squad.