Bukayo Saka, David Alaba Among 6 Stars Who Could Have Made Incredible Nigeria XI

• Nigeria missed out on a number of sensational footballers, including impressive Real Madrid defender David Alaba
• Arsenal star Bukayo Saka could also have represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but he opted to play for England
• Swiss international Manuel Akanji once lamented that he never got an invitation from Nigeria, despite being eligible to play for the Eagles

Quite a number of stars could have represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but they somehow opted to play for other countries.

Only recently did Nigeria slip down to the sixth-best team in Africa and 40th in the world as they continue to struggle to get results.

But they could have a sensational squad if players like Bukayo Saka and David Alaba, had not opted to represent England and Austria, respectively.

Some of these players indicated interest as well, but somehow, they could not see such a ‘transfer’ until the end.

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Below are six players who could have made Nigeria XI

1. Bukayo Saka - England

The Arsenal man once stated that he decided to represent the Three Lions of England because the team had transformed.

Saka, however, admitted that he is still a fan of the Nigerian team. He played for England Youth teams from 2017, and then in 2020, he earned a call-up to the national team and then made his debut in their 3-0 win over Wales.

He has since then made 26 appearances and scored eight goals.

2. Jamal Musiala – Germany

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder was born in Germany to a British-Nigerian father and German mother whose roots can be traced to Poland.

He featured for England U15 national team and then the Germany U16 team. Later he earned call-ups to England U17, U18 and U19 teams, and he obliged.

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In 2021, Musiala stunned the football world when he announced his desire to represent Germany, his country of birth.

He has since featured for the German national team in 20 matches, scoring one goal.

3. Fikayo Tomori – England

When Gareth Southgate ignored Fikayo Tomori from England’s provisional squad to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the defender was urged to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

Tomori was born in Alberta, Canada, to Nigerian parents, but they moved to England when he was at a tender age, and he was raised there.

Tomori was eligible to play for England, Canada and Nigeria. Having represented Canada U20 in 2016, he featured for England Youth teams as well, and then in 2019, he earned a national team call-up.

On March 27, 2016, Tomori captained Canada U20 to a 2–1 victory over England U20. He has made three appearances for the nation.

4. Manuel Akanji – Switzerland

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Manuel Akanji was unimpressed with Nigerian football authorities claiming he was never invited. The defender was born in Wiesendangen, Switzerland, to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father.

He was eligible to play for any of the countries but had represented the Swiss U20 and 21 teams; he opted to play for the country’s national team.

He said, as per Punch:

“Nigeria never called me to play (for the Eagles). There was no question where I should play because Switzerland asked me if I wanted to play for them. I heard nothing from Nigeria. So it was my decision.”

Akanji has now made 49 appearances for Switzerland and scored two goals.

5. David Alaba – Austria

In 2019, David Alaba alleged that he was asked to pay bribes by Nigerian coaches. Alaba branded the coaches as ‘jokers’.

The defender was born in Vienna to a Nigerian father and a famous Austrian singer. He represented Austrian U17, U19 and U21 before deciding to play for the European nation.

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Since 2009, he has so far earned 99 caps for Austria, scoring 15 goals.

6. Tammy Abraham – England

Nigerian authorities made efforts to get the former Chelsea striker to play for the Super Eagles. In 2019, the then NFF president Amaju Pinnick said via Tribuna:

“We will not relent in our quest for good players to pay for the country and win laurels. We will keep talking to good players of Nigerian descent to play for their Fatherland.”

Abraham has already featured at every youth level for England and already has two senior caps in friendly fixtures, but he was still available to switch allegiance.

But he chose to represent England, and since 2017, he has made just 11 appearances for the Three Lions. He was omitted from the World Cup squads in 2018 and 2022.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that Real Madrid defender David Alaba donated a toilet facility to the Ogere Remo community of Ogun State in Nigeria.

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The Austrian-born footballer of Nigerian descent donated the ultra-modern facility to support the community.

The former House of Representatives member applauded the former Bayern Munich star for his show of love by supporting the federal government’s initiative to end open defecation in Nigeria.