Nigeria is stepping up its recruitment of dual-national players to strengthen the Super Eagles, following missed opportunities with prominent talents like Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Carney Chukwuemeka. Tunde Adelakun, Chairman of the Diaspora Talent Discovery Committee, has confirmed that the Nigerian Football Federation is intensifying efforts to attract eligible players born abroad but with Nigerian heritage. These efforts come after several high-profile players chose to represent other nations, including England and Austria, despite being eligible for Nigeria.
Former NFF president Amaju Pinnick had previously led extensive campaigns to convince Saka and Eze to play for Nigeria. However, both players made their international debuts for England, effectively tying their caps to the Three Lions. Similarly, Carney Chukwuemeka, who played for Chelsea’s academy and later joined Borussia Dortmund, opted to represent Austria after receiving FIFA approval to switch his sporting nationality. He was born in Austria, which gave him a strong claim to represent the Austrian national team.
Adelakun also revealed that Nigeria had made significant attempts to secure Michael Olise, the Bayern Munich winger, who holds eligibility for Nigeria, England, France, and Algeria. Olise was even included in a provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho, highlighting Nigeria’s serious interest in the player. Despite these efforts, Olise has not committed to the Super Eagles.
In response to the loss of these players, Adelakun emphasized that Nigeria did not “lose” them but simply failed to secure their allegiance. He pointed out that many of these players grew up in the UK and consider it their home. “They grew up here, their formative years were here. This is all they know,” Adelakun told AYSuga Channel. He added that those who have chosen Nigeria have done well, and those who didn’t, like Bukayo Saka, are also excelling in their chosen national teams.
The Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad includes several dual nationals who have committed to Nigeria. Among them are Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Cyriel Dessers, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Ryan Alebiosu. Their inclusion reflects Nigeria’s growing success in attracting talent from the diaspora.
As Nigeria continues to refine its talent discovery and recruitment strategies, the focus remains on identifying and convincing eligible players to represent the country. The goal is to ensure that future generations of dual nationals see Nigeria as a viable and attractive option, helping the Super Eagles maintain their status as one of Africa’s top footballing nations.
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