The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2020) takes
place from June 11 to July 11, seven months before the African Cup of
Nations in Cameroon.
Five players who have
been named to their countries respective rosters could have featured in
next year's Africa Cup of Nations if they had pledged their
international futures to Nigeria.
In this piece, allnigeriasoccer.com highlights the five players who have opted to represent the countries where they were born rather than the Super Eagles :
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England) : London-born Saka is cap-tied to his country of birth. He was eligible to wear the Super Eagles colours through his father.
He was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation before playing a cap-tying game for England.
A
surprise inclusion in the Three Lions squad given his inexperience at
international level. He scored his first international goal in the
recent win against Austria. He will be wearing the number 25 during the
Euros.
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany)
: Born in Stuttgart to a German mother and Nigerian father. Musiala has
completed a one-time switch, enabling him to represent Germany, having
previously played competitively for the Young Lions at U21 level.
Like fellow teenager Saka, this is his first big competition for his country of birth. His squad number at the Euros is 14.
David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Austria)
: The versatile defender will join Real Madrid when his contract with
Bayern Munich expires in the coming days. Born in the Austrian capital
Vienna to a Filipino mother and Nigerian father.
Cap-tied
to Austria, Alaba explored the possibility of playing for the Golden
Eaglets before he became a household name across Europe.
The
28-year-old has earned 80 caps for Austria's senior team, scoring 14
goals. He started all of Austria's three matches at the 2016 Euros. He
will play with the number 8 in this edition.
Karim Onisiwo (Mainz/Austria)
: Relatively unknown in these parts, the Mainz striker was born in the
Austrian capital Vienna and was previously eligible to represent Nigeria
through his father.
A late bloomer on the
international stage, nine of his eleven caps were earned in the last
two years. He will wear the number 20 for the Austrians.
Manuel Obafemi Akanji (Borussia Dortmund/Switzerland)
: Had qualified to represent Nigeria through his father. He owes his
middle name, Obafemi to former Nigeria international Obafemi Martins.
The Switzerland number 5, who has visited Nigeria several times, is proud of his Nigerian heritage.
Akanji said back in 2018
: "I am a dual citizen. I am proud to be Nigerian and proud to be
Swiss. I wore the Swiss shirt for almost a month. As soon as I have the
Nigeria dress on, it comes in the newspapers".
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : twitter.com/BukayoSaka87
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
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