Former Chelsea and England forward Eni Aluko has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to enhance the competitiveness, structure, and overall appeal of Nigerian football, in a bid to attract more dual-nationality players.
Aluko, who played for England at international level while her brother Sone Aluko represented Nigeria, stressed the importance of making Nigeria a first-choice option — not just a fallback — for players eligible to represent more than one country.
Speaking in a recent interview with Spotify, Aluko said:
England is England. Most players who grow up here and choose to play for their heritage nation usually do so because they believe they won’t have a future with England. That shouldn’t be the case.
It’s up to the country to make itself an appealing choice. There are still challenges to overcome — from better organization and increased investment to raising the standard of professionalism.
It’s crucial for the Nigerian federation to become a competitive and compelling option, not simply the alternative.
Nigeria has seen a steady rise in dual-nationality players joining its national teams. The Super Falcons, for instance, feature foreign-raised stars such as Ashleigh Plumptre, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie, and Toni Payne.
On the men’s side, the Super Eagles have benefited from the talents of players like Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Joe Aribo — all of whom chose to represent Nigeria despite being eligible for other countries.