Former Chelsea forward, Eni Aluko, has shed light on why players eligible to represent both Nigeria and England often choose the latter.
According to Aluko, Nigerian football lacks the appeal needed to convince many dual-nationality players.
Several world-class footballers such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, and Bukayo Saka have opted to represent other nations instead of Nigeria. Aluko herself chose to play for England rather than the Super Falcons.
Speaking on Mikel Obi’s podcast, she admitted that for many UK-born players, representing England is almost a natural choice.
“I think players who grew up here (England) and choose to play for their country of heritage usually do so because they feel they can’t make a career with England,” she said.
“So it’s almost a default decision, which it shouldn’t be. The onus is on the country (Nigeria) to make it a very attractive option. And we know there are still issues that need to be addressed in terms of organization, investment, and overall professionalism.”
