Former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has criticized foreign-born players who choose to play for African teams only after being overlooked by European countries.
The 37-year-old referenced Shola Ameobi, who played for England at the U21 level but later switched to Nigeria late in his career after struggling to secure a spot with the Three Lions.
Ameobi made 10 appearances for the Super Eagles and was part of their squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Mikel believes that many players only consider representing African nations as a fallback option when they are no longer deemed good enough for European teams.
He urged foreign-born players to make their international decisions early and not treat African teams as a second choice.
“Shola had the chance to join Nigeria earlier. The Nigerian FA pursued him and kept inviting him to play for us, but he declined, saying he was waiting for a call-up from England,” Mikel said on the Obi One podcast. “When he finally reached out at nearly 30, we were on the verge of the World Cup, so we had little choice but to give him a chance. He played with us for just a year.”
Mikel added, “He waited until he was past his prime before deciding to represent Nigeria. This is what I’m talking about—we’re not a secondary option. Players need to make their choices early and stick with them. Don’t reach out when you’re 30 and then decide you want to represent your African roots.”
Mikel, who won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2013, earned 91 caps for Nigeria between 2005 and 2019.
He also won the Champions League, Premier League trophies, FA Cups and League Cup trophies with Chelsea.