The statement of former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel on players with dual nationality treating the senior national team of Nigeria as a fall back option has received backing from two current players of the team who carry dual nationality.
In an interview on his podcast Obione Mikel frowns at the practice of players who only commit to the senior national team of Nigeria when all hopes of playing for the other country they qualify for is lost. He went as far as calling out former striker Shola Amoebi as one who did such.
“Shola had the opportunity to come play for Nigeria. Nigeria were chasing him, the Nigerian FA kept asking Shola to come play for us, and he refused.
“He said, ‘No, I wanna play for England. I am waiting for England, waiting for a call-up from England.’
“Shola gave us a call when he was 29, almost 30, to come and play for us, and then he came and only played one year. That was when the Nigerian FA didn’t have an option because we were going to the World Cup, so, okay, let’s just give him the chance.
“But he waited till he was past his best… then he decided, ‘I wanna come play for Nigeria.’ Those are the things I am talking about. We are not a second option. I didn’t know what the situation was with his family back then, but just an example for me. Players shouldn’t wait, you can’t wait.
“If you make a decision when you’re 17, or 16, stick to it. Don’t give us a call when you are 30 and say, ‘Now, I wanna represent my African roots”, he ranted.
Backing Mikel’s statement, the duo of Ola Aina and Alex Iwobi said the decided very early into their international careers to play for Nigeria, and didn’t wait till all hopes of playing for England is lost.
“Nigeria isn’t a second choice, we shouldn’t be seen as second choice. Two separate nations, you have to make a decision, and I agree with him. I and Alex have beaten these allegations”, Aina said on his YouTube channel.
” Not to lie, playing for England is massive, and when I was younger, I thought about it, but as I grew older, I wanted to play for Nigeria, and people like Alex, Victor Moses, and Mikel helped my transition and made it easier for me. I didn’t get rejected by England, but I wanted to play for Nigeria. I was lucky it came about. There’s no better feeling than playing for Nigeria,” he concluded.
Iwobi backed his statement by stating that he turned his back on an invitation to play with the England U21 team and got invited to the U23 of Nigeria, he said he didn’t look back afterwards. A move which has earned him 80 caps so far for the Super Eagles.
“It’s the same for me as well. I’d gotten an invitation to the England U-21’s but I wanted to try out Nigeria, and I was invited to the U-23’s. I got to camp and I immediately felt at home, and I never looked back since then”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
