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10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Here are 10 Nigerian footballers playing for another country. If you were aware of how many Nigerian footballers represent other nations, you would realize that the Super Eagles may have already won the FIFA World Cup.
Even the Africa Cup of Nations would have been a trophy that remained in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Glass House after the World Cup.
Do you believe I’m lying? Wait until you see the list of Nigerian football players that currently represent other nations in this article.
1. Emmanuel Adebayo – Togo
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Emmanuel Adebayor, a former African Footballer of the Year in 2008, was born to Nigerian parents in Lome, Togo. While still a player for Arsenal, Adebayor exclusively revealed to Complete Sports in Accra, Ghana in 2007 that he wanted to play for the Super Eagles but that the presence of other top Nigerian attackers made it difficult for him to have a shot, so he chose to play for Togo instead. He continued by saying that he just supports Togo for the sake of his profession and that he still views himself as a Nigerian because his parents are from Osun State. Adebayor was given the first name Oluwaseyi, which means “God Did This,” as a result of his early struggles with walking as a kid. Adebayor is a current Crystal player.
2. David Alaba – Austria
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
One of this generation’s top defenders is the international from Austria. He is a seasoned defender in the game and a UCL champion. After winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, he presently has a contract with Real Madrid. It should be no surprise that David Alaba is one of the most well-liked football players on this list.
Despite all of his accomplishments, it would anger Nigerians to learn that the Austrian defender is Nigerian since his father is a Yoruba Prince and a DJ. Alaba has publicly expressed his passion for Nigeria by appearing in a few photos with the country’s flag.
3. Emmanuel Sarki – USA
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
One athlete who came so close to joining the Super Eagles but decided against it is Sarki. He participated in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland with the Nigeria national under-17 football team and the African U-20 Championship with the Nigeria national under-20 football team, where he scored two goals for the eventual runners-up. He was very active in the Nigerian youth system.
In the end, Sarki said that he would play for the USA rather than Nigeria since the Nigerian Football Association had demanded payment in order for him to be a part of the team.
4. Dele Ali – England
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Dele Alli, Despite being unquestionably among the finest in the game, is one footballer who has struggled to stay out of the spotlight. Although the 25-year-old still has many years ahead of him, his career has not advanced as much as many would have hoped due to conflicts with coaches, his family, and the notorious sex tape.
5. Jordan Ibe – England
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Despite the greatest attempts of Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh to have Liverpool youth Jordon Ibe play for Nigeria, the nation of his father, Jordon Ibe decided to represent England in international football in September 2015. Ibe, who Barclays English Premier League commentators like Jim Beglin, Jon Champion, Peter Drury, and others prefer to pronounce as though it rhymes with “Hybe,” first expressed interest in playing for Nigeria as the head of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, traveled to England to persuade players who were born in Nigeria to change allegiance to Nigeria.
The winger, who has represented the U-18, U-19, and U-20 teams, is still awaiting an opportunity to play at the senior level. Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and other players are ahead of Ibe in the race for spots in Roy Hodgson’s side for the Euro 2016 Championship, making it apparent that he is not one of the three favorites to make the squad. Ibe will have to wait a little longer to represent his favorite country in international football, barring catastrophic injuries to Hodgson’s first-choice right wingers before Euro 2016.
6. Chinedu Ede – Germany
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Chinedu Ede, a winger for Twente, was born in Germany and has a Nigerian father. Ede adopted German citizenship and has competed for Germany at a young age. The player has participated in German teams from the U-17 to the U-23 level. In 2009, he was a member of the German squad that won the UEFA Under-21 Championship.
7. Sidney Sam – Germany
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Born in Germany to a German mother and a Nigerian father, Sidney Sam played for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga and was said to be in line to represent Nigeria in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. According to reports, former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi was eager to give the midfielder the chance to play for Nigeria rather than his native Germany, where he was born. Sam was contemplating Nigeria’s offer since he had experience playing for German junior teams but not for the senior national team. Sam was also unsure about his chances of making the German national team. Curiously, the midfielder abandoned these ambitions and never played for Nigeria. Sam later played five times for Germany’s senior team and was a member of the 30-man World Cup preparation group.
8. Angelo Ogbonna – Italy
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
The Super Eagles had hoped that Ogbonna, one of their young prospects, would join them and improve their defense, but the Nigerian native instead chose to represent Italy. In this country, his immigrant parents had given birth to him.
Despite all the difficulties, he has only played for Italy and may now regret his choice.
9. Oguchi Onyewu – USA
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Onyewu’s parents immigrated to the US from Nigeria on May 13, 1982, so that their son may attend school in Washington, D.C. On October 13, 2004, Onyenwu, who is now a citizen of the US, played his debut match for the senior national team of the US against Panama. In the 2005 Gold Cup quarterfinal against Honduras, Onyewu scored his first goal for his country, and he was later selected for the tournament’s Best XI. After his agreement with Charlton Athletic expired, he is currently a free agent.
10. Emmanuel Olisadebe – Poland
10 Nigerian Footballers Playing for Another Country
Emmanuel Olisadebe’s professional career began with Onitsha’s Jasper United. The Olisadebe family hails from the Delta State town of Ubulu-Ukwu. The player, however, was given Polish citizenship in 2000 and went on to earn national team experience for Poland. For the first time since 1986, coach Jerzy Engel’s squad advanced to the 2002 FIFA World Cup thanks to eight goals from Olisadebe in 10 qualification games. The ‘Polish Bomber’ had a tremendous career with Polonia Warsaw, representing Poland when he won the Polish Super Cup, Ekstraklasa, and Ekstraklasa Cup in 2000.
Between 2000 and 2004, Olisadebe made 25 appearances for his country, scoring 11 goals in the process. He also took part in the FIFA World Cup in 2002 while wearing the number 11 shirt. “May God Keep” is the Igbo translation of Olisadebe’s name, which comes from South Eastern Nigeria’s first goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup came in the last group game, a 3-1 triumph against the United States at Daejeon; sadly for him, Poland was unable to advance to the knockout stages.
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