Former Nigeria star Odemwingie opposes rapid chase of dual-national players

Former Nigeria forward Peter Osaze Odemwingie has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to take a more selective and emotionally grounded approach when recruiting foreign-born players, arguing that representing Nigeria should be driven by genuine passion rather than persuasion or incentives.

Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Odemwingie reflected on his own journey and contrasted it with the modern trend of national teams actively convincing diaspora-born players to switch allegiance.

The former Premier League striker questioned whether some players without strong personal ties to Nigeria fully understand what it means to wear the green and white jersey, suggesting that emotional connection should be the primary requirement for representing the country.

“I have watched interviews of players who said, ‘I was born here, raised here; I feel British.’ As for me, I had age one to seven in Nigeria, so I went to primary school in Nigeria,” he said.

Odemwingie went on to explain his own deep-rooted connection to Nigeria, detailing his childhood experiences in the country, visits to his ancestral village, and early football development before moving abroad.

“I went to my village with my dad and met my granddad; I had some connections with Nigeria from early childhood. Then we went to Russia and returned at 17, played five years in Nigeria before I went to Europe to play football,” he added.

The former Super Eagles star also emphasized that his decision to represent Nigeria came from personal identity and pride rather than external influence or persuasion.

“These days, it’s like they want the pampering. Me as you know, I don’t need no pampering. If Naija pampers me, it’s more than enough for me,” Odemwingie said.

He further stressed that while Nigeria remains open and welcoming to all eligible players, there should be a careful distinction between those who choose the country out of genuine love and those whose commitment may be more circumstantial.

Odemwingie acknowledged that in some cases, players may naturally lean toward European nations due to upbringing or mixed heritage, and that such decisions should be respected without excessive recruitment pressure.

His comments add to an ongoing debate within Nigerian football about the role of diaspora players in the national team setup, particularly as many top talents born abroad continue to emerge with eligibility for multiple countries.

As the Super Eagles continue to build for future competitions, Odemwingie’s message is clear: talent is important, but emotional commitment to the badge remains non-negotiable.