Osaze Odemwingie has no patience for the idea that Nigerian heritage players need convincing to wear the green and white, and the former Super Eagles forward has his own upbringing as an example of why, Footynaija.com reports.
Odemwingie, 44, was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, and spent the first years of his childhood in Nigeria before the family relocated to Russia.
He returned to Nigeria at 17 and spent five years playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League before making his move to Europe, a journey that shaped an identity he says was never in doubt.
He made his Super Eagles debut in 2002, went on to earn 63 caps, scored 10 goals, and represented Nigeria at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
That background gives weight to his perspective on dual-nationality players who choose other countries over Nigeria, or who take time to decide. For Odemwingie, the connection was built long before any federation official came knocking.
‘These are the things that made me feel I want to be there’
Speaking to Brila, he drew a direct contrast between his own experience and that of players raised entirely in Europe.
“I have watched interviews of players who said, ‘I was born here, raised here, I feel British,’” he said.
“As for me, I had age one to seven in Nigeria, so I went to primary school in Nigeria. 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.”
The emotional anchor, he explained, was his father.
“My dad made me excited about the Super Eagles. ‘Up Eagles, Super Eagles,’ the voice raises, that big figure saying it in front of me. I am a kid anytime he says it with his big smile. I used to be happy. These are the things that made me have a connection with Nigeria that made me feel I want to be there.”
His Russian mother, he added, reinforced that bond.
“My mum also played a major role because despite being Russian, she loved Nigeria,” Odemwingie said.
