Why I chose Super Eagles over Ireland, Ivory Coast —Owen Oseni
Newly invited Super Eagles striker Owen Oseni has explained why he accepted the opportunity to play for the senior national team of Nigeria despite qualifying to play for Ireland and Ivory Coast.
The 23-year-old Plymouth Argyle forward who was invited by head coach Eric Sekou Chelle for the 2026 Unity Cup and will also link up with the team for next month’s friendlies against Poland and Portugal said that he was left stunned when he received his first Super Eagles call up.
The Irish-born player who finished the season with 10 goals from 33 appearances in the English third tier disclosed further that he is excited to begin his international career with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
“I know I had an alright season, but to get called up for a country where there’s more than 240 million people and probably 50% want to play for their country was quite a big deal for me so I was really buzzing,” Oseni told BBC Sport.
“The coaches were watching me, obviously they picked up on the form I’d hit just towards the end of the season.”
Read Also: Onuachu’s brace earns Trabzonspor Turkish Cup title
The burly striker who qualifies to play for Nigeria through his father and two other countries: Ireland and Ivory Coast through his mother said that he would have loved to represent any country on a national level but playing for Nigeria is irresistible.
“I’d love to represent any country on a national level,” Oseni added.
“It’s massive for me and my career and Nigeria, the Super Eagles, when they came knocking, it was a decision that I couldn’t turn down.
“I didn’t think there was a possibility that that could happen. All I know is to just work hard and many doors could open, but I definitely didn’t think that I would be one of them.”
