Former Super Eagles international, Mikel John Obi has cautioned foreign-born players hoping to have international call-ups not to treat their country of origin as a second option
Obi made this known on his The Obi One podcast on Friday while discussing African talents and their reluctance to represent their fatherland while hoping for other countries to give them a call-up
“I’ve talked so much about players not representing their African roots. We’ve held meetings with these kids, with their parents and said, ‘Listen, you are Nigerian, your dad is Nigeria, your mum is Nigerian, why don’t you represent your fatherland, Nigeria? the 37-year-old said
”We wanna play for England, France, whatever it is, and then they wait, and then they keep waiting and keep waiting.”
“When they get to 25 or 26 and they don’t get a call up from England then they call Nigeria. We shouldn’t be treated as second options. We’re not second options. You should be proud of your African roots, you should be proud to represent your African country.”
There have been a number of talented Nigerians who picked other countries instead of playing for the Super Eagles, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and a lot more
Possible explanations for players plying their trade for these countries apart from their country of origin have been early exposure and subsequent integration into the cultures of such country
However, Obi is adamant that the very best of African talents need their country of origin to make a name for themselves.
“I want the best players to play in Africa, so you’d rather make a decision and stand by it. If you decide you want to play for England, stick to it, sit and wait.”
”If you don’t get a call-up, you don’t get a call-up but don’t wait until 29, 30, you’ve passed your best or whatever it is, then you’re ‘Oh, Nigerian FA, I’m ready to play for you now’ No, f**k off mate.”
