They only want to play for Nigeria when they are 29 - Mikel Obi on Nigerian footballers born in Europe

Former Nigerian international, Mikel Obi, has criticized Nigerian players born abroad for treating their African roots as a second option when choosing their nationality.

According to Mikel, foreign-born players often delay their chance to represent their native African nation in an attempt to play for the European nations where they were born.

He said the foreign-born players only begin to show interest in representing their African roots when there's no hope of playing for their country of birth.

"I have talked extensively about players not representing their African roots. We meet with these kids and their parents and say, 'Listen, you're from Nigeria, your dad is Nigerian, your mum is Nigerian—why don't you represent your fatherland?' They often respond, 'We want to play for England, France, whatever it is,' and then they wait. When they turn 25 or 29 and don’t receive a call-up from England, they then consider Nigeria," he said on his podcast.

He urged the Nigerian Football Federation and other African countries to stand their ground and refuse to be treated as second options.

"We shouldn’t be treated as a second option. You should be proud of your African roots and your African country. I want the best players to play in Africa, so you should make a decision and stand by it."

Players of African roots ditching their mother and fatherland to play for their countries of birth has become the norm in recent years.

Many Africans have expressed their concern, while others who get the opportunity to play for their country of birth often face issues of abuse.

EE/OGB