1996 Olympic champion Emmanuel Babayaro has advised the Nigeria Football Federation to focus on producing more homegrown players rather than pursuing dual-national players. 

Of the twenty-eight players named in Nigeria's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, five were born abroad and had been eligible to represent other nations, including Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Alebiosu and Cyriel Dessers.

Although Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Bright Osayi-Samuel were born in Nigeria, they qualified to represent England's Three Lions before making cap-tying appearances for the Super Eagles.

In truth, players such as Iwobi, Lookman and Ola Aina, who initially featured for the Young Lions, switched their international allegiance to Nigeria after senior opportunities with England failed to materialise.

With Nigeria targeting a competitive squad capable of qualifying for the 2030 Fifa World Cup, Babayaro has argued that greater emphasis should be placed on developing talent within the domestic system rather than relying heavily on players of Nigerian descent born abroad.

Commenting on the Nigeria Football Federation's pursuit of Michael Kayode, Emmanuel Babayaro suggested that the Brentford defender is prioritising Italy over Nigeria, arguing that this preference is influenced by the greater pedigree and appeal of Italian football.

Babayaro said on the ATHLST podcast: "We need to pay more attention to production. A lot of these players, their first instinct is that they would rather be with their adopted countries, the places where they think the football is bigger.

"So more often than not, them coming back to say they are going to play for Nigeria is as a result of missing out on selection in their adopted countries. That means us taking the leftovers."

Michael Kayode was a key member of the Italy squad that won the European U19 Championship in 2023, scoring the game-winning goal against Portugal in the final.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel