Football is a universal language, and players with Nigerian heritage scattered across the globe are proving this every day.
Many footballers born abroad to Nigerian parents have been excelling at club level, and while they could easily represent their countries of birth, they are eagerly awaiting a call to don the green and white jersey of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles. Here are some footballers abroad who are passionate about playing for Nigeria.
Tosin AdarabioyoTosin Adarabioyo, born in Paddington, London, currently plays as a central defender for Chelsea in the English Premier League. At 27, he has already represented England at youth levels, but his heart leans toward Nigeria.
He first turned down a call to join the Super Eagles but later had a change of heart. In 2020, Adarabioyo expressed his desire to play at the FIFA World Cup for either England or Nigeria. Now, his sights are firmly set on Nigeria. In his own words, “I want to play for the Super Eagles.”
Chuba AkpomAnother English-born player eager to represent Nigeria is Chuba Akpom. The 29-year-old forward, who plays for Ajax, also represented England at youth levels but confirmed in 2019 that he wants to play for Nigeria.
“It was a personal decision. I’m Nigerian, and my whole family feels very Nigerian. It would be nice to represent Nigeria,” Akpom said during an interview with BBC Sport. Like other players of Nigerian descent, he is still waiting for his opportunity to join the Super Eagles.
Brooke NunnBrooke Nunn, a 31-year-old midfielder, plays for Central Coast Mariners in Australia. Though she was born in London and played for England’s youth teams, she is eligible to play for Nigeria through her mother, who is half-Nigerian.
Nunn has expressed her deep desire to represent the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national team. She sees this as not only an honor but also a personal fulfillment, saying, “Being part of the Super Falcons would be an achievement for me. It’s something that fulfills you.”
German OnugkhaBorn in Moscow to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, 28-year-old forward German Onugkha plays for FC Copenhagen in Denmark. After turning down a call-up from Russia’s national team, Onugkha has his eyes set on playing for Nigeria.
His journey includes applying for a Nigerian passport so he can officially represent the country of his father’s birth. Onugkha is determined to make this dream a reality and believes representing Nigeria would be an important part of his career.
Praise AdeboPraise Adebo, a 21-year-old forward, plays for Stenhousemuir FC in Scotland. Although she was born in Scotland, her parents are Nigerian, making her eligible to play for the Super Falcons without needing to switch nationalities.
Adebo dreams of representing Nigeria at the highest level, and she believes it would be a “dream come true” to get a call-up from the Nigerian national team.
Justin NjinmahAt 23 years old, Justin Njinmah plays for Werder Bremen in Germany. Born in Hamburg to Nigerian parents, Njinmah has never been capped by Germany, which leaves him free to play for Nigeria. He has expressed his desire to line up alongside Nigerian stars like Victor Osimhen in the Super Eagles’ attack. With his performance being closely watched by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Njinmah’s dream might not be far from reality.
David StockbrinkDavid Stockbrink, a 16-year-old forward at Monchengladbach Academy in Germany, is already making waves as a promising talent. Despite being born and raised in Germany, his Nigerian mother has been a strong influence on his desire to play for Nigeria.
Stockbrink’s mother shared that it would be a proud moment for her if her son could represent Nigeria, and that he feels a strong connection to his Nigerian roots. She believes that playing for Nigeria would offer him a chance to be part of something meaningful, despite the fierce competition for a spot on the team.