“I’ve been waiting since 2019” – Ex-Arsenal star declares readiness to play for Super Eagles

Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom has stated that he is still committed to playing for Nigeria despite failing to get a national team call-up since switching allegiances in 2019, Soccernet.ng reports.

Akpom was born in England to Nigerian parents. And just like most players with dual nationalities, he played for the country of his birth at youth level, featuring for them at Under-16, 17, 19, 20, and 21 levels.

However, he decided to switch nationalities in 2019. But unfortunately for him, he has failed to get a call-up since then. Two seasons ago, he was superb for Middlesbrough in the English Championship, producing 28 goals and two assists in 40 appearances. But he did not even get a look-in.

At Ajax, he has been decent, but the status quo has remained the same as he has not received a call-up.

Akpom provided the assist for Ajax's first goal against Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday. And after the game, he was quizzed on his commitment to Nigeria. The Arsenal academy graduate revealed that he has been hungry for an invitation for the past six years

“I don't have a clue why I have not been invited to the Super Eagles, maybe because there are a lot of top strikers of course,” Akpom told Oma Akatugba.

“But I think that for the nation to progress, it needs to be on merit. The players that are performing well need to be selected.

“I try to give a 100 percent, I've been waiting since 2019, I switched allegiances a long time ago. But if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'll just keep working hard.

I've been waiting to play for Nigeria since 2019- Chuba Akpom. pic.twitter.com/xfsHC99gii

— Oma Akatugba (@omaakatugba) January 31, 2025

This season, Akpom has provided eight goals and one assist in 32 appearances for Ajax. And asides from Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface, no other striker is operating at a top level.

If Akpom improves and start scoring more goals, he could fancy his chances of breaking into the Super Eagles team soon.