Super Eagles news: Osayi, ex-Nigeria U17 World Cup winner switches allegiance to Uganda

The Super Eagles have lost two potential players, as former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Akpan Udoh and former Enugu Rangers shot-stopper Kingdom Osayi have decided to switch allegiance to Uganda, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Udoh, who is 27 years old, was part of Nigeria's Under-17 World Cup squad in 2015 — the same set that produced Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Osayi is a popular name in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

​He played for Heartland FC, MFM, Doma United, and Enugu Rangers before leaving for Swedish third-tier club Assyriska FF last year.

​Due to their slow career progress, these players have been unable to break into the Super Eagles squad. Udoh was the first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria claimed gold in Chile in 2015, but his career has not progressed much since then. He currently plays for Mosta FC in the Maltese top flight.

​Now, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed that these players have switched from Nigeria to play for their national team.

​Uganda Confirms Osayi & Udoh's Switch

​On Sunday, FUFA issued a release on their platform unveiling a “grand plan” to strengthen their national teams. As part of this plan, they are scouting professional players who are eligible to represent Uganda under the provisions of FIFA statutes and Ugandan law.

​They confirmed that nine players are switching allegiance, two of whom are Nigerian. According to the Ugandan FA, Akpan Udoh is eligible to switch because one of his grandfathers was born in Uganda.

Meet our new goalkeeper Akpan David Udoh who plays at Mosta FC (Malta)

Born 18 July 1999, Udoh won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in 2015. Udoh is eligible for Uganda through his grandparent, Auma, who was born in Busia, Uganda.

🗞… pic.twitter.com/JBwcebNMSM

— Uganda Cranes (@UgandaCranes) September 27, 2026

​The same rationale was given for Osayi, who they said is eligible through a grandmother born in Uganda.

Meet our new goalkeeper, Kingdom Osayi who plays for Assyriska FF in Sweden.

Born on 3 June 2004 to Nigerian parents, his maternal grandmother was born in Kaberamaido, Uganda. Standing at 1.98m, he brings youth and height to the Uganda Cranes Goalkeeping Department.

🗞… pic.twitter.com/uqOuK0HQET

— Uganda Cranes (@UgandaCranes) September 27, 2026

​However, Soccernet.ng checked FIFA's official platform that tracks players switching allegiance, and neither player was found on the database.

​This is understandable for Osayi, as he has never represented Nigeria at any level and does not need to undergo the standard formal nationality switch process. Udoh, on the other hand, requires official clearance from FIFA because he featured for the Golden Eaglets and was involved with the Flying Eagles.

​Will The Super Eagles Miss These Two Players?

​In reality, the Super Eagles will not feel the loss of these two players. Most often, players decide to switch nationality when they cannot break into the senior team of the country they originally represented.

​Both players who have chosen to switch to Uganda are goalkeepers, a department Nigeria currently has well covered with Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, and Arthur Okonkwo.

​There are also bright emerging talents in the NPFL, such as Michael Atata and Ebenezer Harcourt. In a few years, these players could lay claim to a spot in the Super Eagles if they continue to develop.

​Neither Udoh nor Osayi has featured for the Cranes yet, but once their paperwork is finalized, they will be cleared to play for their new country. Either way, Nigeria will hardly miss them.