Why Nigerian Players Are Choosing Other African Countries

When Akpan Udoh helped Nigeria win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015, it seemed like his future was linked to Nigeria. He played alongside future Super Eagles stars like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

Now, more than ten years later, the former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper is aiming for an international career with Uganda, a nation he connects with through his family.

Udoh made his international debut for Uganda on 2 October, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 friendly win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

His journey shows a growing trend in African football. National teams are looking for players who qualify through ancestry or naturalisation. From Uganda and Malawi to Sudan and Benin Republic, many footballers born in Nigeria or with Nigerian roots are finding chances to play for other African nations. Their stories differ, from those who built their careers abroad to those whose family ties opened doors to international football.

Uganda’s Interest in Heritage Players

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) shared on 27 September that Udoh and Kingdom Osayi were part of nine players found through its national team recruitment program. This program came after scouting over 200 potential heritage players, with 20 chosen for further consideration.

Udoh, born on 18 July 1999, was part of Nigeria’s 2015 Under-17 World Cup-winning team. He qualifies to play for Uganda through his grandmother, Auma, who was born in Busia, as per their recruitment information.

Osayi, born on 3 June 2004 to Nigerian parents, qualifies through his maternal grandmother, who was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda.

Before moving to Swedish club Assyriska FF, Udoh played for several Nigerian clubs, including Heartland, MFM, Doma United, and Rangers International. Osayi was involved with Nigeria’s Under-23 team but did not play in the 2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. His path to Uganda is different from those who have played for another national team.

Both players’ recruitment shows Uganda’s aim to expand its talent pool ahead of international competitions, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Udoh’s transition is especially notable since he played for Nigeria at the youth level. His Uganda debut has now launched his career into senior international football with a different country.

Malawi’s Nigerian Ties

Malawi is another example of how footballers with Nigerian ties are finding chances in Africa. Jubril Okedina, a defender who grew up in English football, was discussed as a potential player for Nigeria’s youth teams. He eventually chose to play for Malawi, receiving his first senior call-up and debuting in March 2024.

Forward Babatunde Adepoju took a different path. Born and raised in Lagos, Adepoju built his career in southern Africa, especially in Malawi. He played for clubs like Blue Eagles, Masters Security, Mighty Wanderers, and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

After several years in Malawi, he got citizenship through naturalisation. He wants to give back to the country that helped him grow as a footballer. His international breakthrough came with his first call-up for Malawi’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He also played in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

For Malawi, both players add new options, showing how national teams can strengthen their squads by recruiting eligible players with connections to other countries.

Adetunji’s Switch to Sudan

Former Nigerian international Sunday Adetunji’s career took a new direction in 2026 when he switched his international allegiance to Sudan after making a name for himself in the country’s domestic league with Al-Hilal Omdurman. He had previously played for several Nigerian clubs like Abia Warriors, Plateau United, and Rivers United.

Adetunji made one senior appearance for Nigeria, coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 friendly loss to Mexico on 4 July 2021. His career then took him to North Macedonia and Serbia before arriving in Sudan. His time with KF Shkupi in North Macedonia was especially successful; he scored 20 league goals in his debut season and helped the club win its first league title.

His limited involvement with Nigeria is relevant to his change of association. FIFA allows certain players to change national teams, but there are conditions involving nationality, past international appearances, age, and participation in major competitions.

A player cannot switch teams just because he has changed clubs or gotten another passport. He must meet the eligibility criteria and get formal approval where needed. Adetunji’s case shows how a player’s international chances can change when club football takes them to another country, where they establish legal and sporting ties to represent its national team.

Benin Republic: Family Ties and Opportunities

Benin Republic has a history of fielding footballers with Nigerian roots, showing the close ties between the two countries. Players like Junior Olaitan, Tosin Aiyegun, and rising forward Joseph Ede Oloko illustrate this connection.

Olaitan was born in Porto-Novo, Benin, to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother. He spent many of his early years in Lagos before returning to Benin to join Ayema FC in Porto-Novo. His strong performances earned him a senior debut for Benin in 2021 and a move to French club Niort in 2022.

“I started in Lagos, then I returned to Benin, where I started with Ayema FC,” he told So Foot. Olaitan’s story shows how family background and experiences in two countries can shape a player’s journey before they reach senior international football.

Aiyegun was born in Lagos to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother. He began his career in Latvia with FK Ventspils, making 89 appearances, scoring 35 goals, and providing 20 assists, before moving to FC Zürich and then Lorient.

He chose to play for Benin at senior level in 2022 and started all four of the team’s matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, including its round-of-16 defeat to Egypt. Oloko is among the more recent Nigerian-born players to get a chance with Benin.

Born in Lagos, the striker developed with 36 Lion FC before moving to AS Cotonou in Benin and then to Europe. His performances for Latvian club Liepāja in 2026 earned him a first senior call-up from Benin coach Gernot Rohr in September.

Oloko has Nigerian roots through his birthplace and a Beninese connection through his mother, linking him to both countries. “My mother is Beninese, so I have always had that link with Benin. I also have Nigerian roots, and I am proud of both sides of my identity,” he told Joueurs Béninois. His words provide a personal reason for such choices. Instead of seeing his decision as a rejection of Nigeria, Oloko highlights an identity that includes both countries.

The Choice is Not Just About Opportunity

The movement of players between national teams also works the other way. Nigeria has gained from footballers who developed abroad and chose to play for the Super Eagles. One recent example is Felix Agu, the German-born defender who was cleared to represent Nigeria in 2025 after playing for Germany’s Under-21 team in friendly matches.

George Ilenikhena, born in Lagos and raised in France from the age of three, also played for France’s youth teams, starting with the Under-16s in 2021. Ilenikhena later switched his allegiance to Nigeria and made his debut for the Super Eagles in their first match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 25 September.

These cases show how international football brings together players shaped by different systems, as long as they meet the eligibility rules. But having dual nationality doesn’t mean a player will always choose the country with a stronger football history.

South African defender Ime Okon, who has a Nigerian father and a South African mother, has made his commitment to Bafana Bafana clear. Born and raised in South Africa, Okon came through the country’s football system, including SuperSport United, before joining German club Hannover 96. He made his Bafana Bafana debut against Mozambique at the 2025 COSAFA Cup and scored his first international goal against Zimbabwe three days later.

Even though he is eligible for Nigeria through his father, he insists that his football identity is deeply rooted in South Africa. “I know where my heart lies,” he said. Okon’s stance challenges the idea that players with dual nationality will automatically choose Nigeria because of the Super Eagles’ fame or the country’s large football community.

Upbringing, personal identity, and emotional ties can be just as important as professional chances. Some players may feel more connected to the country where they grew up, while others may focus more on family ties or the chance to represent a national team. Their reasons are different, and their choices should not be seen as the same.

What FIFA’s Rules Allow

FIFA’s eligibility rules define who can represent a national team and when a player can change countries. The rules separate having a country’s nationality from meeting the extra requirements to play for its national team.

According to FIFA’s Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, a player must have the relevant nationality. Depending on the situation, the player must also show a recognized connection to the country through birthplace, the birthplace of a biological parent or grandparent, or a required period of residence.

For players who have never played for a country in an official competition, the rules differ from those for players who have already played for another national association. If a player has acquired a new nationality, FIFA usually requires a qualifying connection through birth, descent, or residence. The qualifying residence period depends on the age at which the player moved to the country.

A player who has played for another country in official competition may need formal approval from FIFA to change association. This change is not automatic and depends on the player’s international record, nationality, and the specific conditions in Article 10 of the regulations.

FIFA also makes a distinction between official competitions and friendly matches. Participating in an official competition can tie a player to a national association, even at youth level, if the player has physically participated in the match. A friendly appearance alone does not create that restriction.

Some players who have played for a country at senior level may still qualify to change associations, but only under specific conditions. These include rules for players with dual or multiple nationalities who have made limited senior appearances and other narrowly defined situations.

The rules do not give players unrestricted rights to switch national teams just because they have obtained another passport or moved abroad to play club football. Each case depends on the player’s nationality, international history, and eligibility rules, requiring formal approval where indicated by FIFA.

Is Nigeria Losing Talent?

The recruitment of Nigerian-origin players by other African nations raises questions about whether Nigeria is losing footballers who could have strengthened its own national teams. Sports analyst Seun Anifowose feels indifferent. He believes Nigeria should focus on using its available talent instead of trying to stop players from representing other countries.

“The main task for football authorities is to create an enabling environment that allows local talents to be discovered and nurtured into stars,” Mr Anifowose told PREMIUM TIMES.

He added, “If we have the right system in place, anyone deserving of a place in the national team will not be denied for any reasons, including ethnicity, religion, or having a godfather. Those who are not good enough can take their skills elsewhere based on FIFA’s rules.”

Football agent Friday Onajafe said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES that for a country with a large football population and a history of producing international talent like Nigeria, effective scouting and communication with players abroad are vital.

He said, “Domestic competitions and youth development structures must create credible pathways to the national teams. The issue is not whether Nigeria can or should stop players from representing other countries. When players qualify for another national team and meet FIFA’s requirements, their choices must be respected.

“Instead, Nigeria must ensure its football structures are organized enough to identify talent, maintain contact with eligible players, and provide real opportunities for those who want to play for the country,” Mr Onajafe concluded.

As more African federations look outside their borders, Nigeria’s challenge is to develop its own players while understanding that competition for international talent now goes beyond traditional boundaries.