For many footballers of Nigerian heritage, whether raised domestically or abroad, representing the Super Eagles is both a profound honor and a deeply held aspiration. While some develop through Nigeria’s own football infrastructure, others born overseas have chosen to switch their international allegiance to proudly wear the green-and-white.

Though the chance to represent Nigeria is not extended to all, a distinguished group of players have embraced this commitment—often after previously representing other nations at youth level. Their choices have enriched the national team, bringing valuable skill and depth across multiple generations.

1. Victor Moses (England to Nigeria)

After representing England at youth levels, U16, U17, U19, and U21, Victor Moses switched his international allegiance to Nigeria in 2012, following a meeting with officials from the Nigeria Football Federation, where he affirmed his desire to play for the Super Eagles.

Moses made his senior debut for Nigeria in February 2012 during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda. Over his international career, he earned 37 caps and scored 12 goals.

His most iconic contribution came at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was instrumental in Nigeria’s title-winning campaign under the late coach Stephen Keshi. Moses scored twice, earned a spot in the CAF Team of the Tournament, and was honoured as the Samsung Fair Player of the Tournament.

He also featured in two FIFA World Cups for Nigeria, cementing his place as one of the standout players of his generation to commit to the Super Eagles.

2. Reuben Agboola (England to Nigeria)

Reuben Agboola was one of the earliest Europe-born players of Nigerian descent to don the Super Eagles jersey, leaving a notable mark on the national team. Born in Camden, London, Agboola brought his experience and composure to the squad during a transformative period for Nigerian football.

He was first called up by Coach Clemens Westerhof while playing for Sunderland, making his debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana on April 13, 1991.

Agboola went on to play a key role in Nigeria’s campaign at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the team secure a bronze medal after defeating Cameroon in the third-place match.

In total, he earned nine caps for Nigeria—seven at the Nations Cup and two in World Cup qualifiers.

3. Peter Osaze Odemwingie (Russia to Nigeria)

Though eligible to represent Russia and Uzbekistan, Peter Odemwingie chose to play for Nigeria, the country of his father, and quickly established himself as a dynamic and fearless forward, troubling defenders with his pace and skill.

He made his Super Eagles debut on May 4, 2002, in a match against Kenya, and went on to earn over 60 caps for the national team. Odemwingie featured in two FIFA World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and was a key figure in Nigeria’s silver-medal finish at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Despite his children’s multinational heritage, Odemwingie has expressed a strong desire to see them one day represent Nigeria, continuing the legacy he proudly embraced.

4. Leon Balogun (Germany to Nigeria)

Leon Balogun, born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, began his international career with Germany’s youth teams before choosing to represent Nigeria at the senior level. His switch of allegiance came after a pivotal phone call with then-Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi.

Balogun received his first Nigeria call-up in March 2014 for a friendly against Mexico, stepping in as a replacement for Joseph Yobo. Unfortunately, his debut was cut short after just 20 minutes due to an injury sustained in a collision with pitch-side signage.

Despite the rocky start, Balogun went on to become a defensive mainstay for the Super Eagles. His strong partnership with William Troost-Ekong became a cornerstone of Nigeria’s backline, known for its solidity and resilience against even the toughest opponents.

5. William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands to Nigeria)

William Troost-Ekong, a key figure in the current Super Eagles squad, was born to a Nigerian father and a Dutch mother. He initially represented the Netherlands at the youth level, but his international journey took a new direction after an inspiring phone call from the late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi.

Motivated by the opportunity to represent his father’s homeland, Troost-Ekong switched allegiance and made his senior debut for Nigeria on June 13, 2015, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad. That match marked the beginning of a distinguished international career with the Super Eagles.

6. Brian Idowu (Russia to Nigeria)

Brian Idowu became an instant fan favourite after scoring on his debut for Nigeria in a memorable 4–2 win over Argentina on November 14, coming on as a half-time substitute for Ola Aina and netting Nigeria’s third goal.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Idowu was eligible to play for Russia through his birthplace and maternal heritage—his grandmother, Olga, is Russian, and his parents met while studying there; his father pursued architecture, while his mother is a medical doctor.

Despite his consistent performances for Amkar Perm in the Russian Premier League, Idowu was overlooked by then-Russian national team coach Stanislav Cherchesov. This opened the door for Nigeria, and Idowu embraced the opportunity. He went on to represent the Super Eagles at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, playing in all three of Nigeria’s group stage matches on Russian soil.

7. Tyronne Ebuehi (Netherlands to Nigeria)

Tyronne Ebuehi, born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and a Dutch mother, was eligible to represent either country but ultimately chose to play for Nigeria, embracing his paternal heritage.

He made his debut for the Super Eagles in June 2017 during a friendly match against Togo, and was later included in Nigeria’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, further cementing his commitment to the national team.

8. Ola Aina (England to Nigeria)

Ola Aina has emerged as a dependable and dynamic defender for the Super Eagles, consistently delivering strong performances that have earned him a regular place in the senior national team.

Born in England, Aina represented the country at various youth levels before deciding to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria—a choice driven by his desire to reconnect with his Nigerian heritage and limited opportunities with England’s senior side.

He made his debut for Nigeria on October 7, 2017, in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Zambia, coming on as a substitute. The match not only marked his first cap but also sealed Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, making it a memorable start to his Super Eagles journey.

9. Alex Iwobi (England to Nigeria)

Alex Iwobi, nephew of Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha, made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 against Congo, coming on in the 57th minute to replace Ahmed Musa. Although he had represented England at youth levels, Iwobi cited his strong Nigerian heritage and the warm welcome he received during a trial with the Nigerian U23 team as key reasons for choosing to represent Nigeria at the senior level.

He has since gone on to represent the Super Eagles at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

To date, Iwobi has earned 80 caps and scored 10 goals for Nigeria, while Ola Aina has made 40 appearances, contributing three assists from his defensive role.

10. Carl Ikeme (England to Nigeria)

Eligible to represent either England or Nigeria, Carl Ikeme chose to don the Super Eagles jersey, stepping in seamlessly to fill the gap left by the legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Born in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, Ikeme made his international debut for Nigeria on September 5, 2015, in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.

Tragically, his promising career with the Super Eagles was cut short after a diagnosis of leukaemia. Despite this, Ikeme established himself as Nigeria’s most reliable goalkeeper following Enyeama’s departure.

11. Shola Ameobi (England to Nigeria)

In 2011, Ameobi changed his international allegiance to Nigeria, choosing to represent the nation where he was born. Although he had previously played for England’s Under-21 team, he had never appeared for the senior Three Lions squad, allowing him to switch his national team eligibility.

By that time, Ameobi had spent 11 years playing professionally for Newcastle United, racking up a total of 294 top-flight appearances for the Magpies.

He was later named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2014 World Cup, where he featured in two matches before the team was eliminated in the round of 16.

12. Ademola Lookman (England to Nigeria)

Born in London, the CAF Player of the Year initially represented England at various youth levels, playing a key role in their 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup victory before opting to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria at the senior level.

He has described his decision to represent Nigeria after playing for England’s youth teams as one of the best choices of his career.

Lookman made his senior debut for Nigeria on 25 March 2022, during the first leg of the ill-fated World Cup qualifying tie against Ghana.

The Atalanta forward has transformed from being labelled a Premier League disappointment to earning the title of Africa’s best player.

13. Calvin Bassey (England to Nigeria)

Another outstanding player who switched his international allegiance to Nigeria despite being eligible to represent both Italy and England.

Born in Italy to Nigerian parents and raised in England, he ultimately chose to play for Nigeria, inspired by the 2018 World Cup clash between Nigeria and Argentina.

Bassey made his debut on 25 March 2022 against Ghana, and nearly four years later, he has earned 29 caps for the Super Eagles.

14. Maduka Okoye (Netherlands to Nigeria)

Okoye made his Nigeria debut in October 2019 during a friendly against Brazil, shedding tears of joy after the final whistle.

Although eligible to represent the Netherlands at the senior level, he chose to play for the Super Eagles instead.

15. Felix Agu (Germany to Nigeria)

Agu recently changed his national allegiance to represent Nigeria, choosing it over Germany, where he currently plays for Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. He explained that his decision was driven by a desire to reconnect with his roots.

In May, Agu made his much-anticipated debut for the Super Eagles during the 2025 Unity Cup match against Jamaica, delivering an impressive performance.

Prior to this, he had represented Germany at the U-19 level in just two friendly matches before making the switch.

16. Efan Ekoku (England to Nigeria)

Born in London, Ekoku made his debut for Nigeria in a match against Georgia and went on to earn 20 caps for the national team.

He was part of the Nigerian squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and also featured in the 1994 World Cup.

17. Cyril Dessers (Belgium to Nigeria)

Still trying to find his feet in the Super Eagles, Dessers, who was born in Belgium to a Belgian father and a Nigerian mother, switched allegiance to represent Nigeria instead of Belgium.

Dessers made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2020 in an international friendly game against Tunisia in Austria.

He admitted that his decision to play for Nigeria was due to his limited chances to represent Belgium at the international level.

18. Jordan Torunarigha (Germany to Nigeria)

Having represented Germany at various youth levels, Torunarigha switched to playing for Nigeria at the senior level. He made the switch after meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation.

He made his international debut for the Super Eagles in the laboured 3-2 win against Mozambique in an international friendly game in 2023.

19. Joe Aribo (England to Nigeria)

Aribo, who was born in London, made his bow for Nigeria in September 2019, not long after joining Rangers from Charlton.

He made his debut for the Super Eagles in the exciting 2-2 draw against a very solid Ukraine team.

Aribo had only spent four minutes on his international debut when he put the Eagles one goal ahead with a tap-in from an Alex Iwobi assist.

20. Tunji Banjo (Republic of Ireland to Nigeria)

Banjo was eligible to play for Nigeria through his father, and he took this option, making his international debut against Tunisia in Lagos in 1980 at just 20 years old. He would go on to win a total of seven caps for Nigeria.

As one of the first generation of foreign-born professional players to don the green jersey, Banjo helped bridge the gap between Nigerian and European football.

21. Hope Akpan (England to Nigeria)

Akpan pledged his allegiance to represent the Nigerian national team in 2013 and was subsequently handed his first call-up in October 2014 by Coach Stephen Keshi.

He made his debut for the Super Eagles against Sudan in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in Uyo and played the full match.

22. Semi Ajayi (England to Nigeria)

Semi Ajayi, born in Crayford, England, to Nigerian parents, opted to represent the Super Eagles at the international level.

His journey with Nigeria started in August 2018 when he received a call-up for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ajayi made his debut as a substitute against Seychelles and has since been a consistent presence in the Super Eagles squad, including playing a key role in the team that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

23. Josh Maja (England to Nigeria)

After switching his allegiance in 2019, Maja made his international debut on September 10th in a 2–2 friendly against Ukraine, coming on as a late substitute for Victor Osimhen.

He decided to represent the Super Eagles following a request from Nigeria’s national team manager, Gernot Rohr. (THE NATION)