Tunde Adelakun has confirmed that Nigeria are intensifying efforts to recruit dual nationals to represent the Super Eagles, after missing out on Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, as well as Chelsea alum Carney Chukwuemeka. 

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick made extensive efforts to persuade Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze to represent the Super Eagles, but his attempts proved unsuccessful, as both attackers went on to make cap-tying appearances for their country of birth, England.

Borussia Dortmund's Carney Chukwuemeka was also eligible to represent Nigeria and England before receiving FIFA approval to switch his sporting nationality to Austria, where he was born.

Adelakun also worked behind the scenes to convince Bayern Munich star Michael Olise to choose Nigeria over England, France and Algeria at senior level, to the extent that the former Reading academy graduate was included in a provisional squad for the Afcon qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho in March 2021.

"I won't say we lost them. Those who have decided to come and join us in Nigeria, for example, are happy and have done well. And those who decided not to, some of them are doing well, like Bukayo Saka."

Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Cyriel Dessers, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Ryan Alebiosu were among the dual-national players named in the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel