₦airaland Forum

tsephanyah:
owkee

Hmm! No respond yet but still patiently waiting.

AIG07:
Jedijedi ke? Mba!
Don't mind Sir forgiveness. He is always funny with his selection always calling for players on loan @clubs in lesser european leagues. Justifying his point wit more game time.

Is going on loan means a player is bad? Ask Chelsea or you go and check the players they loaned out then come back here.

In lesser european leagues? Do you mean the Spanish league, Dutch league, Belgium league and Greece league are lesser Leagues?

Bros, check am well, they in the top ten. Although, the Greece Super-league is in the 12 position.

Icon4s:
So you mellow down eh ?

Mba! I just dey talk wetin i been get for mind before.

chrisooblog:
You have just corroborated my point 3 seasons ago Ezekiel was hot cake now diminishing returns has set in. He played europa so what? Was he top scorer?

Ajagun did this Ajagun did that yet his coach could not wait to see the back of him

Bros, e bi like say you no see the statistics well. Check it again, you will see he scored 12 goals last season. Abi 12 goals na yam? The lad has even scored more goals than Moses Simon this season. What else do you want from him? Mind you, he is a winger and not a Striker. Ok! Tell me if there is any player better than him.

Which coach? The new coach? You should have told us how Guardiola didn't wait to see the back of Ronaldinho. You should have told us how Mourinho didn't wait to see the back of Mata.

What he did his more important to me than inexperienced bench warmers. Atleast, he is doing something. He played 69 matches for Panathinaikos-fc and scored 10 goals as a midfielder.

Abegi, come up with something else.

Agbo?

We all know Michael Olaitan already played in the Champions League two seasons ago before he suffered minor heart problem but nobody called into the national team. You see what i am talking about. Nevertheless, he came back after 10 months and played some few matches before he was loaned the next season. However, he played regularly for Fc Twente this season before he was loaned again to belgium were he still plays. Tell me who you wan take replace this boy.

chrisooblog:
decent list but don't agree with your inclusions of imoh ezekiel, ajagun, agbo and olaitan. most of them haven't lived up to the hype or promise that they showed some years back. ezekiel went to qatar came back to belgium still average. ajagun i had high hopes for him but he has lost his way i think panathanikos has even loaned him out. hasn't built on the initial promise he showed at olympiakos that health scare really affected him. as for agbo bros forgiveness easy na how u wan make we carry pesin wey get seatbelt for bench in granada of all teams come rio? if say u mention uchebo or babatunde michael (both of whom are far inferior to iwobi, infeanyi matthew and okechukwu) i for here you

Agbo ko! jedijedi ni!

You said those players have not lived up to the or promise they showed 'YEARS BACK'. Do you mean ten years ago or three years ago. Naija.


Imoh-ezekiel scorer 16 goals three seasons ago, 15 goals two seasons, another 12 last season and 3 goals this season. Remember, he played recently in the Europa league. So, tell me if that is years back or recently and who do you think is more experienced than him?



Abdul Ajagun on the other hand played for Panathinaikos-fc(the best club in Greece) for three good years before he was loaned out at the middle of this season due to change of coach and tactics. He played regularly for them as an attacking midfielder (number 10) and helped them to win the Greece cup in 2013/2014 season and qualify for the Champions League 2 times(2013/2014 and 2014/2015 season) after they placed 2nd in the Greece League. Remember, he played in the UEFA Champions League this season. So, does it sound like 'Years Back'? With way his new club is going, they might qualify for the Champions League next year.


To continue.......

Icon4s:
Abegi forget that Mata Matter. Mourinho was with him for one season and half before loaning him. But in this case Andrea Stramaccioni, the new Panathinaikos Coch had barely spent up to 2 months before loaning Ajagun.

Don't make it seem as if I have something against Ajagun. I dnt. Infact I have always included him on the list of players Siasia should invite for selection. However, I have never stuck my head out to say he is better than Iheanacho, Iwobi and Etebor. What I am against is the basis on which you are rating him higher than the other AM options.

What happened to Ronaldinho when Guardiola came to Barcelona?

So, why was Mata loaned out after one and the half season? If na Chelsea, hehehe! I dey follow dem wella. So, no go there. Mata didn't have enough game time under Mourinho and he was not wanted hence the loan move.

Abdul Ajagun had played 12 league matches before he left on loan. He even played some matches under the new coach but not as a starter. The club wanted him to play regularly hence the loan move. Since, he came to the new club he starts the matches and he helped them to climb up the league. The last match he didn't start, they were thrashed 3 goals to nil.

I am not saying he is better than those players. All i am saying is that he is can play in any position in the midfield.

justiz5:
Why I did love the decision to invite our home based stars to get a fair share of the national teams,[b] I just feel it shouldn't be at the expense of our foreign born stars whom we know will always make great impact if invited. Just imagine if we did not loose most of these foreign born players with Nigerian origin, our squad would have been hoter.[/b]

That's the point. But it seems that is what our coaches are doing. At the expense of good players.

Icon4s:
...and yet a New coach counts him as a surplus requirement?

Ask what Chelsea did to Mata even after he was their best player. Then you will know what i am talking about.

Icon4s:
Forgiveness I am sure is not aware of this development. He just wants Ajagun to be in that Olympic team for reasons best known to him

I am very much aware. What do you expect from Italian coaches. They prefer old Cargoes to young boys. The boy is playing regularly. That's all

Icon4s:

no be Arsenal.

joseph1013:
Abdul Jeleel Ajagun

On 29 January 2015, Panathinaikos announced that 23-year-old Nigerian midfielder Abdul Ajagun will continue his career at Levadiakos on loan until the end of season. Ajagun was not in manager's Andrea Stramaccioni plans and his departure will free a foreigner's position, in order for the Greens to complete Lucas Villafanez and Rodrigo Moledo's transfers.

Source: wikipedia

New manager with new tactics. Shikena!

linked:
Spot on! I hate mediocrity

There is nothing like mediocre here. The boy had played for Panathinaikos-fc ( the 20 times Champions of Greece) for 3 good seasons and even single handedly helped them to place second on the league twice and won the Greece Cup once before he was sent on loan at the middle of this season. And as soon as he got to the new club, he was giving the number 10 role. Oh! Remember, it was the Greece Champions that eliminated the Champions of England, Manchester United.

Icon4s:
Comparing Agbo with Iwobi: If Agbo was in Arsenal he would nt even make the bench.
If it is based on game time, then a player like Ifeanyi Mathew would be far far ahead of Agbo and Iwobi plus Iheanacho. It is nt just only abt game time but also quality of the Team. Isaac Success that plays week in week out for Granada would hardly make the bench at Arsenal.

Yes Ajagun's team played UEFA Champions league qualifying rounds, but did you watch him play? Do you watch the Greek League games live?

And to your last sentence they can not all be called because the national Team is not for every d!ck and Harry. Besides, we cannot accommodate over 1000 players in camp and there is no time for that.

Only the best should be called. We dnt need to invite all Nigerian players home and abroad to select a Team of 18 players. The coaches know most of those that will be invited already. We as keen observers know most of them too.

Bros, Game time and league matters. We are not talking about Nigerian league here, we are talking about the best league in the world.

Agbo might not likely make the bench because he will be too good for Arsenal bench. You should have said Iwobi might not likely make Granada bench.

And as long as Agbo has faced the best clubs and players in the world. He should be considered. Afterall, Barcelona thrashed the same Arsenal your are talking about.

So, you know he played in the UEFA Champions League, why do you want to know? Who can play in that competition if not the best.

However, i have not seen Abdul Ajagun played recently but i read reports about him. Please, don't tell me you have seen all the players you clamoured for.

Petrobros:
I tire for forgiveness. He believes it is only players in Europe that deserve to play for the national teams. Uche Agbo wey get permanent spot for Granada bench. Next thing na to shout lets invite him before Spain or Holland caps him

Agbo na our own na, so Spain can't cap him. The truth is if you are good you will be playing in Europe. That's all.

joseph1013:

Why does Ajagun even deserve to play for the team at all? He should not even be on the bench.

Why do you think he doesn't deserve to make the bench?

Icon4s:
His name is Uche Agbo and not Ugbo. He played at the 2013 FIFA U20 WC alongside Ajagun, Madu, Ndidi and co. He is not even a regular for Granada. He had been with Granada even before playing at that U20 of which he was nt even a starter. I consider his career development as slow. He would not make my Olympic team squad list.

Did you roll out those attributes of Ajagun based on his performance at U20 or you have been following him at his Greek Club? Where do you watch the Greek league? Youtube highlights mayb which may jst be 2-5mins videos.
The Ajagun that I know is the Ajagun of 2013 FIFA U20 WC. Ever since I have only watched 1 or 2 highlights of him scoring for his Club.
I am a Fan of the EPL so I watch Iheanacho and Iwobi almost every week. I have come to understand the capabilities of those 2 players and how best to maximize their potentials.

I dnt know Ajagun's current game level so I cannot stick my neck out and say anything for him. Let Siasia invite him to the U23 Camp for him to prove his worth.

I wanted to correct it but my internet service didn't permit me.

You said Agbo is not playing regularly for Granada but statistics shows that he has more game time than Iwobi. How many league matches did Iwobi played this season? 5 but he was only played for 45 minutes in all those matches while Agbo had played 6 league matches and had seen 255 minutes of game time. Oh! Iwobi played in the FA Cup, likewise Agbo played in Copa dey.... So how did Iwobi take enter ya list Sir?

Do you know that Ajagun played in UEFA Champions League qualifying round this season before they were Knockout of the tournament.

Before i answer your questions pls answer me. Where did watch Kingsley Madu before he was invited to the Super Eagles camp? The point is let them be all called and that's all.

Icon4s:
@ bolded, who is he? Never seen that name.
Give me reasons why you would prefer Abdul Ajagun over Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi in the AM role.

Not saying Ajagun is not good enough, jst that I have not seen him play recently. I only still rate him based on his exploits at the 2013 FIFA U20 WC.So I dnt know how his current club form is cos as u know he is hardly in the news.

Ugbo plays for Granada.

Because he plays seldomly in that position for his Club. Ajagun is a natural midfielder, he can anywhere in the midfield when we decide to change tactics while i see Kelechi Iheanacho plays as a striker or supporting striker. I think Ajagun can hold unto the better than Kelechi and i think Ajagun is more matured than him. However, we also have to consider the formation. I have only seen Iwobi played for Nigeria on the wing and it has been long i watched Arsenal-fc matches. So, i don't really no much about him.

chrisooblog:
sia1 has a wonderful selection headache on his hands especially regarding which strikers to use but i trust him to make the right choices. like icon noted i don't think we need ighalo in rio. we already have so many young attackers who are u23 that i feel can do the business are we forgetting ajayi so soon or awoniyi or osimhen? add success, iheanacho and chikatara would you know it we are practically covered. i think we should focus on areas were we are not so strong eg defence. happy to see the emergence of that young boy in porto. there's also one guy in bolton a former madrid prospect can't recall his name now he can also bolster the defence. i'm rooting for leon balogun to help form the core of the defence line for rio. kingsley madu looks a sure bet for leftback hopefully stanley amazie can rediscover his form and give him a run for his money. i'm also worried for musa mohammed hopefully when he's called to camp he will regain his confidence.

starting xi for rio
gk. daniel
lb. kingsley madu
cb. leon balogun
cb. amuzie
rb sincere seth
dm. ndidi/usman mohammed/onazi
cm. azubuike okechukwu
am. iheanacho/ifeanyi matthew
rw. moses simon
lw. etebo
fw. success/ajayi/osimhen

preferred position 4-5-1/4-3-3 variant

Hmm! This is how my recent starting 11 will look like.

gk. Daniel
Lb. Kingsley Madu
Cb. Kenneth Omerue
Cb. Leon Balogun
Rb. Moses Odubanjo
Dm. Ndidi
Cm. Ogenyi-onazi
Am. Abdul Ajagun
Rw. Moses Simon
Lw. Ezekiel Imoh
Fw. Ighalo

These are the men.

Sub. Iheanacho, Success, Ehizibue, Iwobi, Ugbo, Etebor, Okechukwu, Alampasu, Olaitan

tsephanyah:
owkee

Nice!

joseph1013:
Just like Oliseh said, the 'evil' NFF have players they intend to call up so they can 'chop'. They have no time to scout and call up good players with dual citizenship even if those players raise their hands.

Infact 'chop' is the right word. Everybody wan 'chop'.

tbaba1234:
Ross Barkley declared interest to play for Nigeria a long time ago before he became a big name, No one followed up. Otigba refused Hungary for Nigeria, We still have not called him.

There is a lot of politics involved in getting call-ups.

Help me tell them.

TheGoodJoe:
I will say it and say it again. If any foreign player wants to play for Nigeria, let him declare his allegiance to the Green White Green Jersey, just as Leon Balogun did.

We can not tour the World begging players to play for the country, when we have numerous players queued to wear the jersey and make the country proud.

I so not miss them. Wish them success in their careers.

Hmm! The same way Victor Moses declared his allegiance to play for Nigeria. Where are those that declared their allegiance to the green white green jersey? Otigba, Ehizibue.... Infact, i just dey observe Nigerian coaches.

tsephanyah:
my email is populated, so I don't know how to reply you. and my private accounts in.......... Skype, instgra. whatsapp... too risky for me to write it down here,,,......

Hmm! I see. Let me mail you cos i don't do Skpe, instgra. Whatsapp.. But i do... I will mail it too. It is very easy.

tsephanyah:
Awesome, some people will start worshipping her soon

Hmm! Is that you? To be honest, i am interested in Fulanis cos my mother is..... You know what i mean. I never knew about it until recently because i grew up with my parternial grand parents. Although, i would have wished to know more but it is to late.

However, i learnt some fews things which i think.....
Anyway, you accepted to be a friend but all of a sudden you went mute. Maka why? You claimed Yorubas are not friendly but who has been unfriendly so far? I am very curious to know why? Girl always open your mind because you don't know when the angel will come to you. Angel! I mean real angel! I suspected culture played a major part in dividing Nigeria but now i know it is not. What is dividing so far is religion. Is it good or bad? I don't know but one i learnt in life is open ya mind. That's all. *Wetinideywriteself*

Orkpekyandega:
[b][size=14pt]
LOST IN TRANSIT: 33 Nigerian Footballers Playing For Other Countries
[/size]
https://i1.wp.com/www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-02-12_12.37.45.jpg?w=640
Dele Alli will be turning out for England in the European Championship in France later in the year. He could easily be playing for the Super Eagles at next year's Africa Cup of Nations or even the U-23 Eagles at the Rio 2016 Olympics, given his Nigerian blood. The extremely talented Tottenham midfielder is the latest in the line of players of Nigerian descent who chose to play for other countries for one reason or the other. Completesportsnigeria.com's IZUCHUKWU OKOSI digs up a long list of these players with Nigerian blood, who chose to play for countries — some as far-flung as Haiti, Indonesia and Singapore — other than Nigeria…


12. PATRICK OWOMOYELA
The would-he-play, would-he-not play for Nigeria debate regarding Patrick Owomoyela lingered on for quite sometime. The dreadlock-wearing former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has a German mother and a Nigerian father. He won the German Bundesliga titles with Dortmund in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Patrick Olukayode Olaiya Owomoleya also played for Lüneburger SK, VfL Osnabrück, SC Paderborn 07, Arminia Bielefeld, SV Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV II. Owomoleya whose middle name, Olukayode means 'God brings me joy' in the Yoruba language made his debut for Germany in an Asian tour, playing 90 minutes in a 3-0 win over Japan, on 16 December, 2004, in Yokohama and was part of the German national team at the 2005 FIFA Confederation Cup. Owomoleya's international career however lasted just two years as he was never invited from 2006 after he was overlooked for a place in the German squad for that year's World Cup finals which Germany hosted.

Adopted Country: Germany

Number of Caps: 11


13. IKECHI ANYA
Ikechi Anya currently plays international football for Scotland but there is no gainsaying that he is a Nigerian. Scots don't bear the name "Ikechi" or "Anya". Anya plays his club football for Watford, so is a team-mate of Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo. Anya's parents moved to Scotland in the late 80's so that his father could obtain his doctorate in Metallurgy. Anya chose to play for Scotland where he grew up but was also eligible to play for Romania, the country of his mother who is an Economist.

Adopted Country: Scotland

Number of Caps: 16 14.


NEDUM ONUOHA Queens Park Rangers defender Nedum Onuoha received an international call-up to play for Nigeria in March 2007 but rather he chose to wait for a chance to play for England. The defender born in Warri, Delta State before his parents moved to England has since not been capped by the successive managers of the English national team.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 21 (U-21)


15. UGO EHIOGU Nigeria lost the chance to have Ugochukwu Ehiogu play for the Super Eagles. A powerful defender who played for English clubs like Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Scottish Premier League side Rangers, he also played in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United and Sheffield United, as well as a spell in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers. Ehiogu was capped by England at the senior level four times and he scored one goal. In 2012, he came out of brief retirement by signing for non-league side Wembley to participate in the club's FA Cup games alongside other retired veteran players.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 4 16.


EMMANUEL SARKI
Former Flying Eagles star Emmanuel Sarki shocked Nigerian football fans when he switched allegiance to Haiti, the country of his maternal grandmother. Sarki was a junior international who represented at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2001 alongside Mikel Obi and Chinedu Obasi among others. Sarki claimed he was asked to part with some money before he could play for the Super Eagles. Adopted Country: Haiti Number of Caps: 4 17. INNOCENT EMEGHARA Innocent Nkasiobi Emeghara is a Nigerian-born striker who moved to Switzerland as a teenager and started playing football for the reasons of wanting to cope with the language barrier and cold temperatures. His Nigerian names, Nkasiobi means 'Consolation' while Emeghara means 'Willingness To Let Go'. Adopted Country: Switzerland Number of Caps: 9 18. MAURICE EDU After spending several seasons abroad playing in Scotland, England and Turkey, Maurice (Chin)Edu was called into Jurgen Klinsmann’s provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but did not make it past the final round of cuts. The former Stoke City midfielder's parents lived in California. Edu’s father played football in Nigeria and both his parents played a huge role in his success on the pitch and in the classroom.

Adopted Country: USA

Number of Cap: 46


19. CARLTON COLE
Aston Villa's Carlton Okorie Cole was invited for Nigeria's joint 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifiers against South Africa in September 2008 but he failed to honour the call. Cole whose father comes from Rivers State and his mother is from Sierra Leone represented England at the U-21 level but despite not getting the chance to play for England at the senior level then, he turned down the chance to play international football for Nigeria. Luckily for him, he later had few games under his belt in an England shirt but his career has always been enmeshed in one controversy or the other. While playing for the English national team in a friendly against the Black Stars of Ghana, Cole came under fire stating in a twitter rant, a habit that has gotten him into trouble several times, that the game was being used as a means for immigration agents to deport black people back to Africa. He later apologised for his comments and donated to charity in Ghana.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 7


20. TIAGO ILORI
Liverpool youngster Tiago Ilori hails from a cosmopolitan background, having been born in England with a Nigerian father and Portuguese mother. His full names are Tiago Abiola Delfim Almeida Ilori. He lived in the Iberian country for more than a decade and considers himself Portuguese.

Adopted Country: Portugal

Number of Caps: 10 (U-21) 21.


CASMIR AGU
Casmir Agu became the first Nigerian footballer to be handed the citizenship of Singapore in 2003. He made his debut for the Asians on December 13, 2004 against Laos. In 2007, he reached a century of goals in the Singaporian league.

Adopted Country: Singapore

Number of Caps: 36


22. DICKSON ITIMI
Nigerian-born Dickson Edherefe Itimi made his international bow for Singapore on December 15, 2004 in a 3-0 win against Cambodia. Itimi had received Singapore citizenship under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme in 2004. Itimi was handed a six-month ban by the Singapore Football Association from playing in the national team when he stayed away from a national team training. The midfielder was in the Singapore squad that won the Tiger Cup regional football championship in 2004.

Adopted Country: Singapore

Number of Caps: 29


23. PRECIOUS EMUEJERAYE
The older brother of Albert Emuejeraye, Precious dumped Nigeria for Singapore when he gave up any hopes of playing international football for Nigeria. Emuejeraye was awarded Singaporian citizenship in December 2005 three years after he began his club career in the country with Jurong FC. Singapore national team coach Radojko Avramovic handed the Nigerian-born defender an international debut in a friendly against Denmark on the 26 January 2006.

Adopted Country: Singapore

Number of Caps: 56


24. JORDON IBE
Liverpool youngster Jordon Ibe in September 2015 opted to represent England at international football despite the best efforts and more of Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh to have him play for Nigeria, the country of his father. Ibe who Barclays English Premier League commentators like Jim Beglin, Jon Champion, Peter Drury etc prefer to pronounce as though it rhymes with 'Hybe' had initially hinted of his interest in playing for Nigeria as the Nigeria Football Federation boss Amaju Pinnick journeyed to England to convince Nigerian-born players in the country to switch allegiance to Nigeria. The winger has played for the U-18, U-19 and U-20 sides and is still waiting for a chance at the senior level. There is stiff competition for places in the right wing position of England with Ibe clearly not one of the three favourites to claim a place in Roy Hodgson's team for the Euro 2016 Championship with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and other players ahead of him. The verdict here is that unless Hodgson's first choice right wingers suffer crushing injuries before Euro 2016, Ibe will wait a bit longer to play international football for his preferred nation.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 3 (U-21)


25. GEORGE NDAH George Ndah was born in England on December 23, 1974 but his parents, Completesportsnigeria.com scooped from a source known to the family, are from Asaba, Delta State. Ndah played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and in the Football League for Bournemouth, Gillingham, Swindon Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 1999 he was called up to play for the Super Eagles but injury prevented him from making his debut and he was never selected again. Ndah has an older brother, Jamie, who also played at a lower league level with Horsham, Torquay United and Barnet among others.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 1 26.


VICTOR IGBONEFO Nigerian-born Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo changed nationality in October 2011 following an impressive first season at Indonesian club, Persipura Jayapura. Before travelling to Indonesia, he had played for First Bank Football Club of Lagos. Currently playing for Siam Navy, a professional football club in Indonesia, Igbonefo's decision to play for Indonesia's national team was ostensibly for the fact that he was playing at the local scene in Nigeria and could not at least break into one of the Nigerian age-grade teams where he could have had the chance to graduate to the senior levels. An opportunity to travel out was irresistible and that came with the added knowledge that he could play regularly for a modest national team like Indonesia.

Adopted Country: Indonesia Number of Caps: 1


27. GREG NWOKOLO Greg Nwokolo was born in Onitsha, Anambra State but he travelled to Indonesia to play professional football in Indonesia. He made his debut for the Indonesia national football team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on 23 March 2013. The Football Association of Indonesia had a lot of convincing to do before Nwokolo accepted to play for the Asians.

Adopted Country: Indonesia

Number of Caps: 37


28. DIGGER IFEANYI OKONKWO
Nigerian-born Ifeanyi Okonkwo plays international football for Malta. Curiously named Digger (not nickname) Ifeanyi Okonkwo is a Nigerian-born player of Igbo extraction who made his Maltese national team debut on 21 August 1999. Digger played for six Maltese clubs before his retirement.

Adopted Country: Malta

Number of Caps 4


29. RUBIN OKOTIE Rubin Okotie was born to a Nigerian father from Benin, Edo City and a mother from Austria. Okotie now plays for the Austrian national team alongside David Alaba. Okotie spent the first four years of his life in the Spanish city of Barcelona. As a result of his multinational background he is eligible to represent three countries at national level, namely Austria, Nigeria and Pakistan. However Okotie identifies himself primarily as Austrian, stating that "I live there, it's where I have my friends, and I think of myself as Austrian" in an interview with FIFA's website.

Adopted Country: Austria

Number of Caps: 14


30. LAWRENCE CHIMEZIE AKANDU

Lawrence began his career as a defender but plays as a striker these days, albeit in the twilight of his career. The player started his career at Sharks FC before journeying to Poland to sign for Wisla Krakow. He took up citizenship of Hong Kong after leaving Poland for Hong Kong in 1994 and scored on his debut for Hong Kong national team in the East Asian Football Championship 2003 against Korea Republic on 4 December 2003. Akandu currently plays for currently playing for Hoi Fan in the Hong Kong League.

Adopted Country: Hong Kong

Number of Caps: 7


31. STEPHEN ADEMOLU Stephen Ademolu is a Nigerian-born Canadian international who interestingly is a sports journalist who plays for Windsor Football Club in the Canadian League 1. The former U-23 star made his senior debut for Canada in November 2005 against Luxembourg. Ademolu whose mother is Jamaican has six brothers and one sister. His twin brother O'Nicholas also played for the CSU Vikings. His cousin Michael Carter plays football for the Montreal Allouettes.

Adopted Country: Canada

Number of Caps: 8


32. CHINEDU EDE FC Twente winger Chinedu Ede has a Nigerian father and a German mother. Ede took up German nationality and has represented Germany at youth levels. The player has played from the U-17 to U-23 teams of Germany and was part of the German side that won the UEFA Under-21 Championship in 2009.

Adopted Country: Germany

Number of Caps: 4 (U-21)


33. COLLY BARNES EZEH Nigerian-born striker Colly Barnes Ezeh took up the nationality of Hong Kong and made his international debut on November 15, 2006 in a 2-0 win against Bangladesh. Ezeh currently plays for FC Shatin, his second spell at the club.


Adopted Country: Hong Kong

Number of Caps: 1
http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/lost-in-transit-33-nigerian-footballers-playing-for-other-countries/
[/b]
Sir Forgiveness are you there?

I hope we don't loose Tiago Ilori and Jordon Ibe. jordan-ibe self no get sense. Why does he want to waste his career waiting to play for England. Oh! He wants to go to Europe Cup ahead of some established English players.

Orkpekyandega:
[b][size=14pt]
LOST IN TRANSIT: 33 Nigerian Footballers Playing For Other Countries
[/size]
https://i1.wp.com/www.completesportsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-02-12_12.37.45.jpg?w=640
Dele Alli will be turning out for England in the European Championship in France later in the year. He could easily be playing for the Super Eagles at next year's Africa Cup of Nations or even the U-23 Eagles at the Rio 2016 Olympics, given his Nigerian blood. The extremely talented Tottenham midfielder is the latest in the line of players of Nigerian descent who chose to play for other countries for one reason or the other. Completesportsnigeria.com's IZUCHUKWU OKOSI digs up a long list of these players with Nigerian blood, who chose to play for countries — some as far-flung as Haiti, Indonesia and Singapore — other than Nigeria…


1. EMMANUEL SHEYI ADEBAYOR
Former African Footballer of the Year in 2008, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was born in Lome, Togo to Nigerian parents. Adebayor exclusively told Complete Sports in Accra, Ghana in 2007 during an interview whilst still a player of Arsenal that he desired to play for the Super Eagles but the presence of other top Nigerian strikers made it impossible for him to have a chance so he opted to play for Togo. He went further to say that he still considers himself a Nigerian as his parents are from Osun State and he only represents Togo for his career's sake. Adebayor's first name Oluwaseyi means 'God Did This' which he was given due to his initial difficulty walking as a child. Adebayor currently plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League.

Adopted Country: Togo

Number of Caps: 65


2. SIDNEY SAM
Sidney Sam, born to a German mother and Nigerian father, played for German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and was thought to be in line to represent Nigeria prior to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi was reportedly interested in handing the midfielder the chance to represent Nigeria rather than Germany where he was born. Sam had played for the German youth teams but not for the senior national team and was not sure of breaking into the German national team and so was seriously considering Nigeria's offer. Curiously the midfielder pulled the plug on such plans and never represented Nigeria. Sam went on to play five times for Germany's senior team and was in a 30-man pre-World Cup squad for Brazil 2014 but did not make the final squad for the eventual champions.

Adopted Country: Germany Number of Caps: 5


3. DENNIS AOGO
Another Nigerian-born footballer who never got to don the green and white jersey of the Super Eagles is Dennis Aogo. Born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, Aogo who is adept playing as a left-back or defensive midfielder was seen as the ideal choice for the latter position for Nigeria. The versatile player was billed to be part of the Eagles' squad to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but prior to the tournament opted out and declared his intention to play for Germany instead. Aogo would later make his debut for Germany in a friendly match against Malta in a 3-0 victory on 13 May 2010, playing 79 minutes, before being replaced by Ghana-born Jérôme Boateng.

Adopted Country: Germany

Number of Caps: 12


4. ANGELO OGBONNA
West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna was born to Nigerian parents who travelled to Italy from Nigeria in 1988. Ogbonna made his debut for Italy in November 2011 in a friendly game against Poland where the Azurri won 2-0. He came on as substitute. He was in the Italian 23-man final squad for UEFA Euro 2012, but never played in any match during the competition. He finished the tournament with a silver medal though.

Adopted Country: Italy

Number of Caps: 10


5. ROSS BARKLEY Everton youngster Ross Barkley bears a name you will never think had any Nigerian connection. But did you know that the midfielder has Nigerian roots? Shocked? Well, now you know. Barkley's father Peter Effanga is Nigerian but the player has since played for the Three Lions because his mother Dianne is English. His parents are divorced which played a huge part in him deciding which country he will represent. After the divorce of his parents, Ross was with his mother and bore her surname and that was how Nigeria seemingly lost him! He was eligible to play for Nigeria but he has now gone into history books as one of those who got away.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 19


6. DAVID ALABA
When Bayern Munich won the 2012/2013 UEFA Champions League on May 25, 2013, David Alaba was seen with the Nigerian and Austrian flags strapped around his waist during the victory parade at the Wembly Stadium Alaba was born in Vienna to a Filipino mother who is a nurse and a Nigerian father who is a DJ and former rapper. The five-time Austrian Player of the Year (2011-2015) whose middle name 'Olatokunbo' means 'Wealth From A Foreign Land' in Yoruba language was said to be keen on representing Nigeria at youth level. In fact if all had gone well, the left-back would have been in Nigeria's U-17 squad to the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup handled by the late Yemi Tella but he was not considered despite voicing his interest to play for the Golden Eaglets. "I wanted to play for Nigeria but I must confess that there was no formal approach for me. A scout actually discussed that with me. "I was excited because of my dad, he was a fan of (current Super Eagles coach) Sunday Oliseh when Oliseh played for FC Cologne. As a kid, I loved to watch Victor Agali in the jersey of Hansa Rostock,'' he told an Austrian news medium. ''I got the information that Nigeria would only consider those who were in the country perhaps because of travelling logistics and that is the end of that." Nigeria eventually won the U-17 World Cup but nonetheless would have achieved that with the added 'victory' of locking up one of the world's best young players. Two years later, the rejected stone turned the chief cornerstone as Alaba made his debut for the senior Austria national team in a match against France. He then became the youngest player in the history of the Austrian national team. Alaba has won the Bundesliga title five times as well as the DFB Pokal and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013.

Adopted Country: Austria

Number of Caps: 42 7.


EMMANUEL OLISADEBE

Emmanuel Olisadebe started his professional career with Jasper United of Onitsha. The Olisadebe family are from Ubulu-Ukwu in Delta State. The player was however granted Polish citizenship in 2000 and was subsequently capped by the Polish national team. Olisadebe scored eight goals in ten qualification matches as coach Jerzy Engel's team reached the 2002 FIFA World Cup, their first since 1986. The 'Polish Bomber' had a successful career with his Polish club Polonia Warsaw where in 2000 he won the Ekstraklasa, Ekstraklasa Cup and Polish Super Cup. Olisadebe scored 11 international goals in 25 caps between 2000 and 2004, and participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he donned the number 11 jersey. Olisadebe whose name means "May God Keep" in the Igbo language of South eastern Nigeria scored Poland's first goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in a 3–1 victory against USA in Daejeon in the last group match, unfortunately for him, Poland failed to progress to the second round of the World Cup.

Adopted Country: Poland

Number of Caps: 25 8.


DELE ALLI
Tottenham Hotspur hotshot Dele Alli has Nigerian blood running through his veins. Full name, Bamidele Alli, the supremely talented midfield prodigy regretfully plays for England and not Nigeria. His name means "Follow me to my House" in Yoruba and the name is given to a child born outside their community , state, or country. On October 1, 2015, while Nigerians were marking the 55th anniversary of the country, England manager Roy Hodgson on that day was busy hatching a plan to deprive Nigeria of one of its best prospects, Alli. The wily Hodgson on Nigeria's Independence Day named the midfielder in his team for their final UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Estonia and Lithuania. The youngster made his debut against Estonia eight days later, coming on as a late substitute for another 'lost son of Nigeria' Ross Barkley in a 2-0 win. On 17 November 2015, Alli made his first start for the England senior team, scoring the opening goal from a long range shot to beat Spurs team-mate, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in a 2-0 win against France at Wembley Stadium in the aftermath of the Paris bombing that shook the world. Alli, injury permitting, is nailed-on to make Roy Hodgson's squad for Euro 2016 this summer in France.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 4


9. OGUCHI ONYENWU Born Oguchialu Chijioke "Gooch" Onyewu on May 13, 1982, Onyewu’s parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to study in Washington, D.C. A US citizen now, Onyenwu made his first senior national team appearance for the US on October 13, 2004, against Panama. Onyewu scored his first international goal in the 2005 Gold Cup in the semifinal against Honduras, and was later named to the tournament Best XI. He is now a free agent after his contract with Charlton Athletic ended.

Adopted Country: USA

Number of Caps: 67


10. STEFANO CHUKA OKAKA
Stefano Chuka Okaka was born on 9 August, 1989 in Castiglione del Lago, Perugia, in Italy to Nigerian parents who hail from Onitsha, Anambra State. Okaka later obtained Italian citizenship due to his family gaining citizenship status. Okaka joined the Roma youth system in 2004. He is currently an Italian international who plays as a striker for Belgian side Anderlecht. The striker's uncle, Uche Okaka, confirmed to Completesportsnigeria.com in Lagos that his nephew was indeed keen to play for the Super Eagles despite being a youth international for Italy but his talks with the Nigeria Football Federation did not yield any positive answer. Okaka made his senior debut for the Italian national team on 18 November, 2014. He made his debut as a substitute, replacing Sebastian Giovinco in the second half, and scored the winning goal at Sampdoria’s ground the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Adopted Country: Italy

Number of Caps: 3


11. GABRIEL AGBOLANHOR Gabriel Imuetinyan Agbonlahor was born on 13 October, 1986 to a Nigerian father from Edo State and a Scottish mother and lived all his life at Birmingham. On 19 November, 2008 he made his international debut against Germany. He played for 76 minutes. Since making his debut for England, Agbolanhor has only three caps for the English national team. He made his first appearance in a competitive international on 14 October, 2009, playing 66 minutes in the 3-0 win over Belarus in the last game of qualification for the 2010 World Cup. He was last called up to the squad in November 2011.

Adopted Country: England

Number of Caps: 4
[/b]
Sir Forgiveness are you there?

Chai! I just forgot to reply. Sorry, bros no vex.

*clearing throat* Most of these players refused to play for us or were not approached on time. Some were not even approached at all while some approached by themselves but were denied the opportunity to play for their father's land. Unfortunately, the regetted stone has become the corner stone. From the list, i will pick the exceptional ones we never approached or denied the opportunity when they came begging.

1, David Alaba
2, Dele Ali
3, Ross Barkley
4, Emmanuel Adebayor

tbaba1234:
Team of the week. Courtesy: Owngoalnigeria.com

https://i2.wp.com/owngoalnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/image-78.jpg?resize=272%2C300

This team make sense die but..... . I hope our coach is seeing this.

Oyinbo man go say "afterall, we are on the same boat" if any thing happens. And as long as Nigeria remains, every man dey benefit from each other. hehehe! Even God has made it in a way that no man or Nation can be independent of itself. It is written.

The truth is the leaders and the people are not intelligent. Ops! I should have said self-centered. That's all.

Iran! Make i hear wetin dem wan invest before i say......

tsephanyah:
simple fulani killed people buhari keeps quite, why don't u armed up and go kill all the fullanis starting with buhari that's the only way, an eye for an eye. I don't want u reply me if u don't have the courage to go and kill them only typing with ur keypads next time use Weapon not keywords

E bi like say you be one kai m**n girl. Anyway, have i said something wrong that you refused to....

robosky02:
Former French international and Olympique Lyon coach Paul Le Guen is leading the race to become the next Super Eagles job, Completesportsnigeria.com understands.

Claude Leroy and an unnamed Scottish coach are also reportedly jostling for the plum job which erstwhile coach Sunday Oliseh resigned from a month ago.

Le Guen who was sacked as Oman's head coach after the side lost 2-1 to Turkmenistan on Nov. 17 last year, has reportedly agreed in principle, with the NFF, to lead Super Eagles and has also requested former skipper of the Super Eagles Austin Jay- Jay Okocha to be his first assistant on the job.

Le Guen who was also booted out at Scottish side, Rangers Completesportsnigeria.com, gathered will earn about $50,000 a month which is double of what Oliseh earned as coach.

Olympic team coach, Samson Siasia is currently in charge of the Super Eagles on an interim basis for the double header against Egypt later this month.

How can request for Okocha to be his assistant when he doesn't have a coaching license? I smelling some kind hanky panky here. NFF don turn to family affairs Ko? From Daniel Amokachi to Keshi, from Keshi to Oliseh, from Oliseh to Siasia, From Siasia to Oyinbo with Okocha as assistant. How the Oyinbo take know Okocha? Chai! Some people wan make money ko?

Ok na! No wahala! NFF can't play on some Nigerians intelligence.

I still dey observe!

If em build dis one em town, he no good? But if na em crib why em no show the bedroom? #showmewizkidinsideandigobelieve#