10 Nigerian players who chose European national teams

BUKAYO SAKA (ENGLAND)

HE has Nigerian heritage but he was born in England, therefore the Arsenal youngster is eligible to play international football for both countries.

He has chosen the latter.  

The 19-year-old made his England debut in the 3-0 friendly victory over Wales on Thursday and became one more player with Nigerian blood to have opted for a European country.

There have been plenty like him that Nigeria ‘lost’ to European national teams. Here are 10 of them.

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UGO EHIOGU (ENGLAND)

THEN an elite centre-back on top of his game for Aston Villa in the English top flight, Ugo Ehiogu rejected Nigeria’s advances and chose to play for England.The now late defender, who sadly lost his life in 2017 aged just 44, made his England debut in a friendly against China in 1996 and never played a competitive game for the Three Lions. His second cap did not come until five years later in a 3-0 friendly win over Spain where he scored and had an assist. His final cap was in 2002 against Italy.

INTERNATIONAL STATS:  4 caps, 1 goal, 1 assist.

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CHRIS ARMSTRONG (ENGLAND)

AS a top, top striker in the English Premier League with Crystal Palace in the 1990s, Chris Armstrong caught the interest of Nigeria. Despite his Nigerian roots however, Armstrong decided to play international football for England, where he was born. He was even invited by Nigeria with a view to participating in the 1994 World Cup but he turned the country down while holding out for an England invite.He ended up playing only once for England’s B team. 

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 1 cap (England B), no goals, no assists.

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EMMANUEL OLISADEBE (POLAND)

THE striker Emmanuel Olisadebe was born in Nigeria to Nigerian parents and played top flight football in Nigeria with Jasper United. But he ended up representing Poland and earned the nickname ‘Olisadebowski’ at the peak of his powers. After becoming a big hit in Poland following his impressive first season there, Olisadebe caught the eye of the national team selectors. Within three years at Polonia Warsaw (1997 to 2000) where he had become a household name due to his goals, Olisadebe was eligible for Polish citizenship. He then pledged his international commitment to the Eastern European country and was top scorer as they qualified for their first World Cup in 16 years. He also scored for them at the 2002 World Cup before gradually losing his place despite still being young (born in December 1978) and very active at Greek club Panathinaikos.Olisadebe played his first Poland game in August 2000 at 21 years old and his last game for them in April 2003 at only 24 years old.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 25 caps, 11 goals, 4 assists.

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INNOCENT EMEGHARA (SWITZERLAND)

STRIKER Innocent Emeghara was born in Nigeria but emigrated to live with his mother in Switzerland in his early teens. He started his professional football career in the European country and played for their youth national team. The 31-year-old is now playing in the Swiss second division with FC Winterthur after spells in the Swiss, French and Italian top flights. Emeghara made his senior Switzerland debut in June 2011 and his final appearance only two years later. He scored goals for Switzerland U-21s and U-23s (London 2012 Olympics) but never scored at senior level.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 9 caps, no goals, no assists.

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DAVID ALABA (AUSTRIA)

BAYERN Munich star David Alaba could have played for Nigeria (father’s country), Philippines (mother’s country) and Austria (where he was born). He settled for Austria, where he has spent most of his life, and Nigeria lost a player who has turned out to be one of the best in Europe over the last few years.Alaba, who has won numerous Bundesliga titles and two Champions League trophies, is a very versatile player, starring as left-back and centre-back at Bayern Munich but in advanced midfield for Austria. He is just 28 years old but Alaba was already a senior international at 17 when he made his Austria debut in October 2009. He has been unstoppable since.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 73 caps, 14 goals, 16 assists.

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ROSS BARKLEY (ENGLAND)

NIGERIA once made serious advances to attacking midfielder Ross Barkley when he was on the rise at Everton. However, he was only interested in playing for England.Having featured for England’s junior sides, he made his senior debut in 2013 in a World Cup qualifier aged 19.Now 26 and on loan at Aston Villa from Chelsea, Barkley attended the 2014 World Cup where he played only once and the 2016 European Championship where he was an unused substitute throughout. He was left out of the 2018 World Cup squad but returned afterwards.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 33 caps, 6 goals, 6 assists.

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MANUEL AKANJI (SWITZERLAND)

BORUSSIA Dortmund rely on a solid defence as launch pad for their attacking football and one of the main men keeping them safe at the back is Manuel Akanji, who was born to a Nigerian father.Akanji however plays international football for Switzerland, his birthplace and the country of his mother. The tough centre-back made his senior Switzerland bow in 2017 at the age of 21 and has featured regularly for the Europeans ever since.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 24 caps, no goals. 

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DELE ALLI (ENGLAND)

TOTTENHAM Hotspur forward Dele Alli has not hidden the fact that he does not have a great relationship with his Nigerian father, and the 24-year-old probably never considered playing for the Super Eagles. Alli once thrived with England, although he has lost his Three Lions place in recent times. He made his first senior appearance for England in October 2015 at just 19 years old. He was a key member of their 2016 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup squads. He starred as they reached the semi-finals in Russia, their best World Cup outing since 1990.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 37 caps, 3 goals, 6 assists.

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PATRICK OWOMOYELA (GERMANY)

Patrick Owomoyela has a Nigerian father and a German mother and both countries wanted him to play for them when he was at his peak. He went with Germany but there is that lingering feeling that he would probably have had a longer international career had he chosen Nigeria.He was then a top player with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and his choice was understandable. Now 41, Owomoyela made his Germany debut back in December 2004 against  Japan. His final Germany appearance was in 2006 against the United States of America.Remarkably, all of Owomoyela’s Germany matches were friendlies. He was in their squad for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup but did not play a single minute.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 11 caps, no goals, no assists. 

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TAMMY ABRAHAM (ENGLAND)

THE Nigeria Football Federation made several attempts to convince Tammy Abraham to play for his father’s country but the Chelsea striker opted to pledge his allegiance England, the country where he was born.His dad and NFF President Amaju Pinnick are said to be friends but having previously played for England at age-group level, Abraham’s choice was almost obvious and he made his senior England debut in a friendly against Germany in November 2017. He has since played in competitive games for England, ruling him out of a switch to the Super Eagles.

INTERNATIONAL STATS: 4 caps, 1 goal, no assists.