ADEMOLA LOOKMAN
Ademola Lookman is the most recent player to have switched his nationality allegiance to Nigeria. The 24-year-old formerly played for The Three Lions of England, where he never made a senior appearance, a very real reason the Super Eagles leveraged on to convince the Leicester City talisman.
Ademola Lookman was born in England to Nigerian parents, although he had represented the English nationality in the youth level of Under-19, 20, and 21 respectively. He helped the U-20 of the English side to win the World Cup.
He’s currently on loan to Leicester City from RB Leipzig, he was loaned to Fulham last season by the German team and could be available for the Nigeria team that will face the Ghana side for a world cup qualifier.
OLA AINA
Ola, who has solidified his playing position with the Super Eagles is yet another player who assents to switching country patriotism.
The right-back made every appearance in the youth division of the English team but couldn’t break into the senior team.
The former Chelsea player was invited to the Super Eagles in 2017 by Grnort Rohr where he has since then appeared 17 times. He was part of the Supers Eagles squad that won a bronze in Egypt in the 2019 AFCON, a 3rd place, and was part of the team in the just concluded 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
Ola played for Fulham last season as a loan player and has returned to Torino in Italy after his loan spell ended with Fulham.
VICTOR MOSES
Former Chelsea player Victor Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria, he was helped to seek Asylum in Europe after his both parents were murdered in a riot that almost claimed his life.
Moses’s decision to play for Nigeria was not easy following the ordeal he had gone through.
He featured in the youth level for England, played a critical role in Antonio Contes Chelsea’s reign where he won EPL, UEFA Europa League, and F. A cup.
Moses represented England youth teams at under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels, but opted to play for Nigeria rather than being fully capped for England. He made his debut for the Nigerian senior team in 2012 and earned 38 caps and scored 12 times before retiring from international matches in 2018. He played in Nigeria’s winning campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore, he announced his retirement in 2018 with the National tea and currently plays for Spartak Moscow.
ALEX IWOBI
The former Arsenal player chose the Super Eagles over England despite representing in the youth levels.
He made his debut with the Super Eagles in 2015 and has since been capped 55 times with 9 goals to his name on the Eagles record.
He has represented the Super Eagles in the world cup and AFCON tournaments.
Iwobi started his career at Arsenal and fell out with Unai Emery who sold him to Everton where he’s currently playing.
He won the FA Cup, Community Shield with Arsenal, and a Bronze medal with the Super Eagles.
SHOLA AMEOBI
Shola Ameobi was born in Zaria, Kaduna state, Northern Nigeria. His parents relocated to Europe at a tender age. Shola grew up in England and represented the youth teams of England.
With no certainty of gaining a place, he swapped his Nationality to Nigerian.
Shola represented Nigeria for only two years from 2012 to 2014, managing only 10 caps and 2 goals.
Although he had a better career with Newcastle United he flourished and made 300 caps. His career precisely collapsed after he left Newcastle United.
WILLIAM TROOST EKONG.
The Super Eagles assistant captain, who knows, would have been a partnership pair with Virgil Van Dijk in the Dutch national team. He was born to a Nigerian father and a Dutch mother, his decision to serve his father’s land came in 2015 when he dumped the Dutch despite representing them at the youth level.
The 28-year-old defender began his career at Groningen before he was cited by Watford in Udinese.
He has made 56 appearances for the Super Eagles becoming the 16th player to have recorded over 50 caps for the African giant.
In his 7 years stint with Nigeria, Troost Ekong has featured in the World Cup, Two AFCONS, and Olympics for the Super Eagles. He is currently playing at Watford.
SONE ALUKO
Born in England, Aluko capped England at all youth levels up to under-19 before accepting an offer to play for Nigeria. He won caps at under-20 and under-23 levels, before making his senior debut in 2009 for Nigeria.
Samson Siasia named him in his squad that played the U-20 world cup in Egypt where he made three appearances, the same year he made his senior debut in the Super Eagles with 7 caps, he never lasted long. Although Aluko at 32 is still actively playing, he is currently playing with Ipswich Town in England.
KEVIN OPKOGUMA
The Hoffenheim center-back was born to a Nigerian father and a German mother. He was born in Germany and has represented the German team at the youth level.
Of course, with the availability of young and promising talents in the defense role for Germany, Kevin had to relinquish his mother’s country to play for Nigeria.
He had his switch done in 2020 and made his debut the same year in a friendly game against Algeria where the Eagles lost.
He was invited to most of the Super Eagles AFCON Qualifiers games and failed to make the final squad of the just concluded 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
