SEVERAL players with Nigerian heritage but who opted to play international football for England have been showing support for the Super Eagles at the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been having a fine tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, staying unbeaten in six matches and advancing to the final last night after beating South Africa 4-2 on penalties in Bouake.
Bukayo Saka, the most prominent of the Nigerians playing for England’s Three Lions, led the celebration last night with a post on social media.
The Arsenal forward, who has scored 11 goals in 32 appearances for England, posted on Instagram a freeze frame of the moment Kelechi Iheanacho took the winning penalty for Nigeria and wrote ‘Super Eagles!’ adding the Nigerian flag and the emoji of an eagle.
Fikayo Tomori also showed support for the Super Eagles on social media, the 26-year-old AC Milan centre-back with five England caps sharing a congratulatory CAF post on Instagram and adding the eagle symbol and Nigerian flag.
Others with Nigerian heritage, including Tammy Abraham, Noni Madueke, Joshua Zirkzee and Dominic Solanke also celebrated the Super Eagles’ win on social media.
AS Roma striker Abraham opted for England despite desperate efforts by the Nigeria Football Federation to convince him to play for his father’s country, but he obviously still wishes the three-time African champions well.
The 26-year-old, who made his England debut in 2017 and has scored three goals in 11 appearances, reposted CAF’s Super Eagles post and wrote ‘Last push’.
Bournemouth striker Solanke, 26, who also rebuffed NFF’s advances but has only one England cap since 2017, shared a screenshot of Iheanacho celebrating after his winning penalty kick and added the Nigerian flag and the eagle emoji.
Chelsea’s 21-year-old forward Madueke, who won the European U-21 Championship with England last year but is still eligible for Nigeria, and Bologna striker Zirkzee, 22, who has a Dutch father and Nigerian mother but has played for the Netherlands at youth international levels, also hailed the Super Eagles on social media after last night’s victory.
The Super Eagles will face hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON 2023 final at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abijdan on Sunday night.
