In 1994, Nigeria announced itself at the FIFA World Cup, showcasing a hedonistic brand of football never envisaged. Led by Dutchman, Clemens Westerhof, the Super Eagles chaperoned their audacity with a carefree spirit allied to cohesion. It was unusual for an African side.
Having easily strolled to a second Africa Cup of Nations title in January, Nigeria peaked at fifth in April, still the best by an African side. The Eagles' heavy wings, however, couldn't carry them beyond the second round. Perhaps things would have been different had John Fashanu and other eligible players opted for their fatherland.
Born to a Nigerian father, Fashanu was one of the earliest players to reject the country. He instead settled for England, collecting two caps against Chile and Scotland in the 1989 Rous Cup. And five years later, while the Three Lions didn't make it to the Mundial, Nigeria did and Fashanu was ineligible.
Nigerian football has grown much bigger since that showpiece in the United States. Yet, players of Nigerian descent have continually overlooked the Super Eagles. But what if they actually don't? How will Gernot Rohr's current team look like? Here, Tribuna.com takes a look at the strongest possible XI if he has every eligible player at his disposal.
GK: Francis Uzoho (Apoel Nicosia, Cyprus)
The goalkeeping department is Nigeria's weakest. Uzoho, who plies his trade in Cyprus, slightly edges highly-rated England based teenagers Gavin Bazunu and Arthur Okonkwo owing to his experience.
Both 18, born to Nigerian fathers, but while Bazunu is on the payroll of Manchester City and represents the Republic of Ireland at youth levels, Arsenal's Okonkwo does same for England.
Just three years older, Uzoho, meanwhile has been capped 14 times by the Super Eagles. At only 19, he started all three games at the last FIFA World Cup in Russia. Standing at 6 ft 5, the 21-year-old is like a giant pillar in goal. Sometimes shaky, though, his recent move to APOEL could build his nerve.
RB: Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea, England)
Victor Moses would have been the easy pick two years ago. However, having quit the three-time AFCON winners after the World Cup in Russia, it opens up doors for ex-Chelsea defender Ola Aina and current Blue, Fikayo Tomori.
Aina switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2017 after representing the Three Lions at various youth cadres. He has since garnered 17 caps, shuttling both flanks of the defence. His not-too-spectacular campaign with Torino costs him a place.
Tomori resisted Aina's lead. Eligible for Nigeria through his parents, he chose England in November 2019. The 23-year-old impressed at the start of the just-concluded season for Chelsea but somewhat suffered a dip in form since the year's turn.
RCB: Felix Uduokhai (Augsburg, Germany)
Uduokhai is an ex-German youth international
The Bundesliga is rapidly becoming something of a talent factory for players of Nigerian descent, especially rearguards. New Rangers signing, Leon Balogun, was the first product in 2014. Augsburg's Felix Uduokhai could follow.
Like Balogun, the 22-year-old qualifies for the Super Eagles through his father. Despite several caps for Die Mannschaft juniors, the centre-back hasn't ruled out the possibility of linking up with Rohr, who himself is German.
Uduokhai enjoyed a strong loan spell in Bavaria, such that the club triggered his buy option. Blessed with superb positional awareness, he shows speed in defending, knowledge of spacing and timing. He is preferred to Kenneth Omeruo who suffered relegation with Leganes in Spain.
LCB: Semi Ajayi (West Brom, England)
Ajayi was a key cog as West Brom secured promotion to the Premier League. The versatile defender started 45 matches across all competitions, only goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was more involved for the Baggies.
Just two seasons ago, Ajayi scrapped the barrels in England's third-tier at Rotterdam and now has the opportunity to test his craft at the highest level. Described as "calm and composed in possession and adept at aerial duels," he is comfortable playing the ball out of defence.
Semi didn't hesitate to honour his first international invite in 2018, describing it as a "dream". He has racked up 11 appearances, selected ahead of Udinese star William Troost-Ekong whose mother is Dutch.
LB: David Alaba (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Slotting on the left is the highly-rated, experienced and versatile Bayern Munich superstar. Alaba whose father is Nigerian and mother Filipino opted for Austria, his country of birth.
The 28-year-old was reportedly denied the opportunity to partake at the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup with Nigeria. The European nation, on the hand, welcomed him to its youth fold before ultimately capping him in 2009.
Alaba would walk straight into Rohr's team, ahead of regular, Jamilu Collins. The gulf in quality is apparent. While the Nigerian was relegated with Paderborn, Alaba sealed a record eighth Bundesliga.
CM: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, Nigeria)
There's no way the Premier League's best tackler won't make it into Rohr's team. In fact, only a few countries can do without his extra legs, work ethics and composure in front of the defence.
Ndidi averaged four tackles and 2.7 interceptions per match this season. He drifts across the midfield, winning the ball back and recycling possession, thus providing attacking outlets from deep.
No wonder Rohr retains the 23-year-old despite trying out different combinations in the middle, involving Rangers' Joe Aribo, Stoke City's Peter Etebo and Alex Iwobi of Everton.
RM: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur, England)
In February 2015, Fashanu was reported to have approached Alli to represent Nigeria. “I will be speaking to some people at MK Dons to help patch me through to Alli. We can’t afford to lose such a talented kid to England,” he was quoted by SL10.ng. Nigeria was defeated ultimately.
That same year, Alli honoured a call-up to the Three Lions squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.
Although Alli endured a torrid campaign at Spurs, he sure has an edge over Iwobi and Aribo in the current squad. A Raumdeuter, he possesses superior technical ability with a good first touch and high-calibre finishing.
LM: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England)
Saka's breakout season at Arsenal has alerted Nigeria. The Gunners' new no 7, though, is still undecided between the Africans and England.
“I’m happy to have represented England at youth level but I’m also proud of my Nigerian heritage from my parents," he said. Born in Ealing, London to Nigerian parents, the 18-year-old won several caps for the Three Lions from under-16 to 19 levels.
He would join an exciting crop of Nigerian youngsters. His versatility, pace and foresight would be key. Despite starting only 21 of Arsenal’s 41 matches in all competitions, the teenager ended the campaign with 10 assists, the most of any Gunner.
AM - Joshua Zirkzee (Bayern Munich)
Dutch-Nigerian wunderkind Joshua Zirkzee was a revelation for Bayern last season. The 18-year-old notched three goals from three shots in his first 26 minutes of professional action in Germany. But he received massive attention after scoring with his first touch against at SC Freiburg in February.
The Dutch youth international who is of Nigerian ancestry followed that performance with three more goals in equivalent starts, averaging one in a little over 73 minutes.
Standing 6'4, Zirkzee is a hard player to miss, and he's realising the immense potential he showed as a youngster with Feyenoord, for whom he scored 33 goals in 27 outings for their youth team, prompting interest from the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
CF: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea, England)
Abraham buried the slightest hope of a potential international switch to Nigeria by appearing in a competitive game for England against the Czech Republic in 2019. He then opened his goal account in the 7-0 rout of Montenegro.
Offering vibrancy and power at the spearhead of the Chelsea attack, Abraham has proven he belongs at the highest level. His dynamic style enabled the Blues to penetrate defences.
Although his form dropped towards the latter stages, he still managed 22 contributions (18 goals, 4 assists). Such a threat is a valuable asset to any team.
CF: Victor Osimhen (Lille, France)
Osimhen is set to become Africa’s most expensive footballer when he seals a reported €81m (£73.6m) move from Lille to Napoli. The Nigerian ended the season with the same goal input as Abraham.
Unlike the Chelsea star, however, he performs a dual function as a line leader: a pacy forward capable of running beyond the defensive line and a target man. His combo with Abraham and an unpredictable Zirkzee would have been dreaded.
