How more Nigerian-born players are switching to represent other African countries

When Akpan Udoh helped Nigeria win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015, his future appeared tied to the nation whose colors he wore alongside future Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

More than a decade later, the previous Golden Eaglets goalkeeper is pursuing a world profession with Uganda, a rustic to which he has a household connection.

Udoh made his worldwide debut for Uganda on 2 October, preserving a clear sheet in a 2-0 pleasant victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

His journey displays a rising pattern in African soccer, the place nationwide groups are trying past their borders for players who qualify via ancestry or naturalisation.

From Uganda and Malawi to Sudan and Benin Republic, a number of footballers born in Nigeria or with Nigerian heritage have discovered alternatives to represent other African countries. Their experiences differ, starting from players who developed their careers overseas to these whose household ties have opened the door to worldwide soccer.

Uganda’s seek for heritage players

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) introduced on 27 September that Udoh and Kingdom Osayi were among nine players identified through its national team recruitment programme.

The initiative adopted a scouting train involving more than 200 potential heritage players, with 20 recognized for additional consideration.

Udoh, born on 18 July 1999, was a part of Nigeria’s 2015 Under-17 World Cup-winning squad. He qualifies to represent Uganda via his grandmother, Auma, who was born in Busia, in accordance to data printed about his recruitment.

Osayi, born on 3 June 2004 to Nigerian mother and father, qualifies via his maternal grandmother, who was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda.

Before his transfer to Swedish membership Assyriska FF, Udoh performed for a number of Nigerian golf equipment, together with Heartland, MFM, Doma United and Rangers International.

Osayi, in the meantime, had been concerned with Nigeria’s Under-23 workforce setup however was not fielded on the 2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. Having not represented Nigeria in a match at that event, his path to Uganda differed from that of players who’ve already featured for an additional nationwide workforce.

Both players’ recruitment displays Uganda’s efforts to widen its pool of accessible expertise forward of worldwide assignments, together with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying marketing campaign.

For Udoh, the transition is especially putting as a result of he beforehand represented Nigeria at youth stage. His Uganda debut has now taken his profession into senior worldwide soccer with one other nation.

Malawi’s Nigerian connection

Malawi gives one other instance of how footballers with Nigerian connections are discovering worldwide alternatives elsewhere in Africa.

Jubril Okedina, a defender who developed in English soccer, attracted dialogue a few potential future with Nigeria’s youth groups. He in the end dedicated his senior worldwide profession to Malawi, receiving his first senior call-up and making his debut in March 2024.

Forward Babatunde Adepoju adopted a special route.

Born and raised in Lagos, Adepoju constructed his skilled profession in southern Africa, notably Malawi, the place he performed for golf equipment together with Blue Eagles, Masters Security, Mighty Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

After spending a number of years within the nation, he obtained Malawian citizenship via naturalisation. He has additionally expressed a need to give again to the nation that helped develop his soccer profession.

His worldwide breakthrough got here when he acquired his first call-up for Malawi’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying marketing campaign. He subsequently featured for the Flames of their aggressive fixtures and contributed to the workforce’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying marketing campaign.

For Malawi, each players present further choices, illustrating how nationwide groups can strengthen their squads by recruiting eligible players with connections to other countries.

Adetunji’s transfer to Sudan

Former Nigerian worldwide Sunday Adetunji’s profession took one other flip in 2026 when he switched his worldwide allegiance to Sudan after establishing himself within the nation’s home recreation with Al-Hilal Omdurman.

The ahead beforehand performed for a number of Nigerian golf equipment, together with Abia Warriors, Plateau United and Rivers United.

Adetunji had made one senior look for Nigeria, approaching as an alternative in a 4-0 friendly defeat to Mexico on 4 July 2021.

His subsequent profession took him to North Macedonia and Serbia earlier than he moved to Sudan. His spell with KF Shkupi in North Macedonia was notably productive: he scored 20 league objectives in his debut season and helped the membership win its first league title.

His restricted senior involvement with Nigeria is related to his change of affiliation. FIFA permits sure players to change the nationwide affiliation they represent, however the course of is topic to circumstances involving nationality, earlier worldwide appearances, age and participation in main competitions.

A participant can’t swap nationwide groups just because he has modified golf equipment or obtained one other passport. He should fulfill the relevant eligibility standards and safe formal approval the place required.

Adetunji’s case illustrates how a participant’s worldwide prospects can change after membership soccer takes him to one other nation, the place he might set up the authorized and sporting connection required to represent its nationwide workforce.

Benin Republic: Family heritage and worldwide alternative

Benin Republic has an extended historical past of fielding footballers with Nigerian connections, reflecting the shut geographical, cultural and household ties between the neighbouring countries.

Among the players who illustrate this relationship are Junior Olaitan, Tosin Aiyegun and rising ahead Joseph Ede Oloko.

Olaitan was born in Porto-Novo, Benin, to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mom. He spent a lot of his childhood in Lagos earlier than returning to Benin to be a part of Ayema FC in Porto-Novo.

His performances helped him earn a senior debut for Benin in 2021 and a transfer to French membership Niort in 2022.

“I started in Lagos, then I returned to Benin, where I started with Ayema FC,” he instructed So Foot.

Olaitan’s story illustrates how household heritage and formative experiences in two countries can form a participant’s profession earlier than he reaches senior worldwide soccer.

Aiyegun was born in Lagos to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mom. He started his skilled profession in Latvia with FK Ventspils, the place he made 89 appearances, scoring 35 objectives and offering 20 assists, earlier than shifting to FC Zürich and later Lorient.

He selected to represent Benin at senior stage in 2022 and began all 4 of the workforce’s matches on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, together with its round-of-16 defeat to Egypt.

Oloko is among the many more latest Nigerian-born players to earn a possibility with Benin.

Born in Lagos, the striker developed with 36 Lion FC earlier than shifting to AS Cotonou in Benin and subsequently to Europe.

His performances for Latvian membership Liepāja in 2026 earned him a primary senior call-up from Benin coach Gernot Rohr in September.

Oloko has a Nigerian background via his birthplace and a Beninese connection via his mom, giving him hyperlinks to each countries.

“My mother is Beninese, so I have always had that link with Benin. I also have Nigerian roots, and I am proud of both sides of my identity,” he instructed Joueurs Béninois.

His feedback supply a private clarification for such choices. Rather than presenting his alternative as a rejection of Nigeria, Oloko described an identification that encompasses each countries.

The alternative isn’t at all times about alternative

The motion of players between nationwide groups additionally works in the other way. Nigeria has benefited from footballers who developed overseas and selected to represent the Super Eagles.

Among the players who’ve not too long ago pursued this route is Felix Agu, the German-born defender who acquired clearance to represent Nigeria in 2025 after beforehand enjoying for Germany’s Under-21 workforce in pleasant matches.

George Ilenikhena, born in Lagos and raised in France from the age of three, additionally featured for France’s youth groups, starting with the Under-16s in 2021.

Ilenikhena subsequently switched his worldwide allegiance to Nigeria and made a scoring debut for the Super Eagles in Uyo of their first match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 25 September.

These instances present how worldwide soccer brings collectively players formed by totally different growth techniques, offered they fulfill the related eligibility guidelines.

However, twin nationality doesn’t assure {that a} participant will select the nation with the more outstanding footballing historical past or better worldwide profile.

South African defender Ime Okon, who has a Nigerian father and a South African mom, has made his dedication to Bafana Bafana clear.

Born and raised in South Africa, Okon got here via the nation’s soccer system, together with SuperSport United, earlier than becoming a member of German membership Hannover 96. He made his Bafana Bafana debut in opposition to Mozambique on the 2025 COSAFA Cup and scored his first worldwide aim in opposition to Zimbabwe three days later.

Despite being eligible for Nigeria via his father, he has maintained that his football identity is rooted in South Africa.

“I know where my heart lies,” he stated.

Okon’s place challenges the belief that players with twin nationality will robotically select Nigeria due to the Super Eagles’ repute or the nation’s massive football-playing inhabitants.

Upbringing, private identification and emotional attachment might be as essential as skilled alternative. While some players establish more carefully with the nation the place they grew up, others might place better emphasis on household heritage or the chance to represent a nationwide workforce.

Their motivations differ, and their selections shouldn’t be handled as interchangeable.

What FIFA’s guidelines allow

FIFA’s eligibility laws decide who might represent a nationwide workforce and underneath what circumstances a participant can change the nation they represent. The guidelines distinguish between possessing a rustic’s nationality and assembly the extra necessities to play for its nationwide workforce.

Under FIFA’s Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, a participant should maintain the related nationality. Depending on the circumstances, the participant should additionally set up a recognised connection to the nation via birthplace, the birthplace of a organic mum or dad or grandparent, or a prescribed interval of residence.

For players who’ve by no means represented a rustic in an official competitors, the necessities differ from these governing players who’ve already performed for an additional nationwide affiliation.

Where a participant has acquired a brand new nationality, for example, FIFA’s guidelines usually require a qualifying connection via start, descent or residence. The qualifying residence interval depends upon the age at which the participant moved to the nation.

A participant who has represented one other nation in an official competitors may have formal approval from FIFA to change affiliation. Such a change isn’t automated and depends upon the participant’s worldwide report, nationality and the particular circumstances set out in Article 10 of the laws.

FIFA additionally distinguishes between official competitions and pleasant matches. Participation in an official competitors can tie a participant to a nationwide affiliation even at youth stage, offered the participant has bodily taken half within the match. A pleasant look, in contrast, doesn’t by itself create that restriction.

Some players who’ve represented a rustic at senior worldwide stage should still qualify to change affiliation, however solely underneath particular circumstances. These embody provisions protecting players with twin or a number of nationality who’ve made restricted senior appearances, in addition to other narrowly outlined circumstances.

The relevant necessities can embody age limits, the timing of nationality acquisition, the variety of appearances and the interval for the reason that participant’s final senior worldwide match.

The guidelines due to this fact don’t give players an unrestricted proper to swap nationwide groups just because they’ve obtained one other passport or moved overseas to play membership soccer. Each case depends upon the participant’s nationality, worldwide historical past and the relevant eligibility provisions, with formal approval required the place stipulated by FIFA.

Is Nigeria dropping expertise?

The recruitment of Nigerian-origin players by other African countries raises questions on whether or not Nigeria is dropping footballers who might have strengthened its personal nationwide groups.

Sports analyst Seun Anifowose feels detached, as a substitute, he believes Nigeria ought to deal with making the most effective use of the expertise out there slightly than making an attempt to forestall players from representing other countries.

“The major task for football authorities is to provide an enabling environment that would allow for local talents to be discovered and nurtured into stardom,” Mr Anifowose instructed PREMIUM TIMES.

He added: “If we have the right system in place, anyone that is deserving of a place in the national team will not be denied or hampered on any grounds, including ethnicity, religion or having a godfather. Those that are not good enough can take their skills elsewhere depending on what the guiding FIFA rules state.”

Football agent Friday Onajafe famous in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES that for a rustic with a big football-playing inhabitants and a historical past of manufacturing worldwide expertise like Nigeria, efficient scouting and communication with players overseas stay essential.

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He stated: “Domestic competitions and youth growth constructions should present credible pathways into the nationwide groups.

“The query isn’t whether or not Nigeria can or ought to forestall players from representing other countries. Where players qualify for an additional nationwide workforce and meet FIFA’s necessities, their selections should be revered.

“Rather, Nigeria must ensure that its football structures are organised enough to identify talent, maintain contact with eligible players and offer meaningful opportunities to those who wish to represent the country,” Mr Onajafe concluded.

As more African federations look past their borders, Nigeria’s problem is to develop its personal players whereas recognising that competitors for worldwide expertise now extends nicely past the normal boundaries of nationwide growth techniques.