Former Chelsea Star, Eni Aluko Reveals Why She Ditched Nigeria For England

Former England and Chelsea striker, Eni Aluko has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to step up efforts in making Nigerian football more organized, competitive, and appealing, especially for players who are eligible to represent more than one country.

Speaking in a recent interview with Spotify, Eni Aluko explained that many players who grow up in countries like England often only choose to represent their country of heritage when they feel there’s no future for them in the national team of their birth.

The 38-year-old, whose brother Sone Aluko played for the Super Eagles, said Nigeria must work towards becoming a top choice for dual-nationality players rather than being seen as a backup option.

She pointed out that Nigeria still faces several challenges, including poor organization, lack of investment, and weak structures, that need fixing if the country wants to be taken seriously by top-level talents.

“England is England. Most players who grow up here and choose to play for their country of heritage usually do so because they believe they won’t make a career playing for England. That shouldn’t be the case.”

“The onus is on the country to make itself a very attractive option. There are still issues that need addressing — from organization and investment to overall professionalism.”

“It’s really important that the Nigerian federation makes itself a competitive choice, not just the alternative,” she said.

In recent years, both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s teams have seen a rise in dual-nationality players. The Super Falcons now feature several foreign-born stars such as Ashleigh Plumptre, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie, and Toni Payne.

The Super Eagles also include players like Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Joe Aribo, all of whom could have represented other countries but chose Nigeria.

KanyiDaily recalls that former Nigerian captain, Mikel Obi also tackled African footballers who chose to play for European countries instead of their fatherland.