Former Nigerian international, Mikel Obi has expressed dissatisfaction over footballers with African roots who choose to play for European countries, hence, making their fatherland a second option.
The former Chelsea star said on his podcast, The Obi One, that if an African player chooses to wait for a call-up from a European team, they should not consider playing for Nigeria or their African nation if things don’t work out.Instead, they should stay waiting.
“I’ve talked so much about players not representing their African roots. We’ve held meetings with these kids and their parents and said, listen, you are from Nigeria and your dad is Nigerian, why not represent your fatherland, Nigeria?”, Mikel Obi queried.
“They say they wanna play for England or France or whatever it is, and then they wait. They keep waiting and keep waiting. When they get to 25 or 26 and they don’t get a call up from England, then they call Nigeria. We shouldn’t be treated like second options, we are not second options”.
Mikel Obi further stated that footballers should be proud of their roots. “If you decide you want to play for England, stick to it. Sit and wait. If you don’t get a call-up, you don’t get a call-up. But don’t wait until you’re 29 or 30 and then you call the Nigerian FA to tell them you’re ready to play for them. F*ck off mate”.