Former Nigerian football star John Mikel Obi has voiced his frustration with African players who treat their national teams as backup options after failing to secure spots in European national squads.
Mikel made these remarks in a recent interview, where he emphasized the importance of taking pride in one’s heritage and representing one’s country from the onset of their careers.
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Mikel criticized the trend where players of African descent initially pursue opportunities with European teams like England or France and only consider playing for their African countries when they are not selected by these teams.
He pointed out that many players wait until they are around 25 or 26 years old before turning to their African roots.
“They want to play for England, France, whatever it is and then they wait. When they get to 25 or 26 and they don’t get a call-up from England, then, they call Nigeria. We shouldn’t be treated as second options,” Mikel said passionately.
Mikel urged young African talents to take pride in their heritage and choose to represent their countries from the start. “You should be proud of your African roots, you should be proud to represent your African country,” he added.
Reflecting on the consequences of this mindset, Mikel stressed that players should make a firm decision early in their careers about which national team they want to represent.
“If you decide you want to play for England, stick to it, sit and wait, if you don’t get a call-up, you don’t get a call-up, but don’t wait till you’re 29 and then say you want to play for Nigeria. We’re not second options.”
Mikel’s comments have sparked discussions about the value of representing one’s national team and the pride associated with playing for one’s country of origin.
His stance calls for a change in how young players view their career choices, urging them to honor their roots and contribute to the growth and success of their African national teams from the beginning.
