The 16th edition of the UEFA European Championship kicks off today, a year after its initial commencement was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Still to be referred to as Euro 2020, the tournament, featuring 24 national teams, will run from June 11 – July 11, 2021, across 11 host countries.
At least five of the 624 players gearing up to participate in this continental championship have Nigerian blood running through their veins.
And Soccernet.ng’s Imhons Erons cast the spotlight on these incredible talents who could have been soaring with the Super Eagles under different circumstances.
Tough like a terrier and hard as a nail, Manuel Akanji would have fitted perfectly at the heart of the Super Eagles defence if he had chosen to represent the West African nation.
But the Borussia Dortmund defender, born to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father, is one of the stars Switzerland are banking on to enjoy a brilliant run at the Euros.
Akanji was a member of the Swiss team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. And the 25-year-old also played in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where his team finished 4th.
These experiences will give the 1.86 m tall defender the edge over many strikers when the ball starts rolling at Euro 2020.
The one that actually got away is David Alaba. Once reportedly snubbed as a teenager by the handlers of Nigeria’s cadet teams, Alaba has gone on to become one of the best left-backs of his generation.
He may not have won much with the Austrian national team, but the defender is a seven-time winner of the Austrian Footballer of the Year award.
A legend at Bayern Munich, Alaba made over 400 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, winning 27 honours, including ten Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2013 and 2020.
The 28-year-old will be joining Real Madrid after the Euros to open a new chapter of an incredible career. What a miss for Nigeria!
Like Alaba, Karim Onisiwo is another player of Nigerian descent who chose to fight for the colours of Austria.
The striker has not been prolific for club and country, though, and he may not be considered as big a miss as his international teammate.
Onisiwo has managed just nine league goals for Mainz since signing for the German club in 2016 and has only a solitary strike for the national side in eight matches.
Still, Austrian fans will hope he can rediscover his scoring touch and fire the Boys to victory at the continental championships.
Born in Stuttgart to a German mother and British-Nigerian father, Jamal Musiala arrived in England at seven. He was, therefore, eligible to represent any of these three countries.
Germany eventually won the race to the heart of this highly-rated youngster and will look to unleash him on hapless opponents at the Euro 2020.
Still in his teens, Musiala comes into his first-ever European Championship as a Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich.
Earlier in the year, the young attacking midfielder became the youngest player to score a goal for a German club in the UEFA Champions League after scoring the second goal in the first leg of Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Lazio.
And it would be a delight to see him deliver the goods at the grandest stage of European football.
While England dropped Eberechi Eze due to injury and Dele Alli due to poor form, the Three Lions could not ignore the incredible talent of another youngster of Nigerian descent, Bukayo Saka.
Only just 19, Saka scooped the 2020/21 Arsenal Player of the Season Award while playing in several roles, including as a winger, left-back, or central midfielder for the Gunners.
He was tipped for great things with the Super Eagles despite having represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels.
But England have secured his allegiance for all times, and he would be one of the players saddled with tasks of providing the creative spark for the Three Lions in their search for the continental crown.
This post was last modified on June 11, 2021 6:54 am
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I Wish them All Bad luck! Especially Bukayo Saka. I love Nigeria more than any single player and I hate Every Play who snub Nigeria for other Country.
Well Wishes to French National Team In Euro.
Is it by force to play for a country that does not appreciate its citizens.
I wish jamal musiala good luck with germany
They re not true sons of Nigeria
U are mad sir ,are you a true son of Nigeria ?
I don't know why someone will will be against his own country
Not sounding unpatriotic , much as I'd love them to play for Nigeria. Nigeria as it is today is not worthy donning the green white green colors for. Nigeria does not respect their legends or heroes , neither do they care for their own. Salaries and bonuses are owed players and coaches alike after taking the risk and pains to represent their fatherland. I don't blame those who shunned Nigeria. I 'd do the same.
What a good talk! Nigeria doesn't worth dying for at all.
Those players that sign for England often get a raw deal: most of them are used for just one match or two, mostly friendly matches, and are then unceremoniously dumped. Ask Gabriel Agbonlahor for his experiences, featuring only in two matches, a friendly against Switzerland and a World Cup qualifier, after a highly publicized allegiance to England. Contrast this with Alex Iwobi who heeded his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha'so advice, and is today a household name in Nigeria and the EPL, following appearances in high-profile championships including the FIFA World Cup. Those that opt for other countries outside of England get a far better deal.
It is better to play for that England than Nigeria, hopeless country.....they made the best choice
How can you wish your fellow humans bad luck all because they didn't play for Nigeria? Bro that is harsh. We all love our country but everyone wants recognition and this country lacks that. Rashidi Yekini died, nobody remembered his contribution. Edema Fuludu same thing, I have been in this world to witness our array of stars wither away after their selfless service and do called patriotism for this country. We better change our mentality. I'm sure if your son lives in England and decides to pitch his tent with the Three Lions, you will be his no1 supporter, so stop pretending.
In their adopted countries, they got called to the national team with just a text message and a congratulations in advance but the Nigeria NFF want them to write the country to signify their interest. Which will you prefer? Where you are treated like a king or where you are treated like a nobody?.
Wey I wish them all the best. However which them were representing our country today Nigeria would have be a strong team
I wish them good luck