Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Babayaro has delivered a sharp assessment of Nigeria’s dual-nationality recruitment approach, warning that players like Brentford’s Michael Kayode only consider the Super Eagles after being passed over by the countries they actually want to represent.
Emmanuel Babayaro has not pulled any punches. The 1996 Atlanta Olympic champion and former Super Eagles stalwart used the question of Michael Kayode to make a broader point that Nigerian football administrators would do well to take seriously: the NFF is often not the first choice of the dual-national players it pursues, and the federation needs to confront that reality rather than continue pretending otherwise.
Speaking on the ATHLST podcast, Babayaro put it plainly. “We need to pay more attention to production,” he said. “A lot of these players, their first instinct is that they would rather be with their adopted countries, the places where they think the football is bigger. So more often than not, them coming back to say they are going to play for Nigeria is as a result of missing out on selection in their adopted countries.” His conclusion: “That means us taking the leftovers.” Fans following the Super Eagles’ squad-building situation can check the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code for a welcome bonus ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming qualifying fixtures.
The Kayode Question
Michael Kayode is the immediate trigger for Babayaro’s comments. The Brentford right-back, who is eligible for Nigeria through his heritage, has been identified by the NFF as a recruitment target. But the 21-year-old’s preference, according to Babayaro’s reading of the situation, is clear. Kayode was a central figure in Italy’s U19 European Championship-winning squad in 2023, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Portugal. That is the national team jersey he built his youth career around, and that context matters when assessing whether a Nigeria approach will gain traction. New users backing Super Eagles recruitment via Bet9ja can find the latest Bet9ja promotion code before registering.
Kayode has since featured in Premier League football with Brentford, giving him consistent top-level exposure in England. Whether Italy’s senior coaching staff factor him into their plans going forward will likely determine where this story ends. If the Azzurri door closes on him, Nigeria becomes more attractive. If it stays open, the NFF will be waiting in line.
A Pattern With Deep Roots
Babayaro’s critique is not new, but it is rarely stated this directly by someone with his standing in the Nigerian game. The historical pattern he is describing is well-documented. Of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad, five were born abroad and held eligibility for other nations: Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Alebiosu and Cyriel Dessers. Several other players in the squad, including Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Bright Osayi-Samuel, were born in Nigeria but qualified for England’s youth teams before making cap-tying appearances for the Super Eagles. And players such as Iwobi, Lookman and Ola Aina only committed to Nigeria after senior opportunities with England failed to materialise. The system has been producing this dynamic for two decades.
Babayaro’s prescription is straightforward: the NFF must invest more seriously in domestic production so that Nigeria’s squads are built from players who chose green and white from the start, not players who arrived after other doors closed. It is a message that has been made before, but the urgency around it has grown as the talent pool of willing dual-nationals becomes thinner and more competitive. Fans who want to back the Super Eagles’ journey to the 2030 World Cup can follow the story at FootballInNigeria.com.ng and use the Nigeria’s top Bet9ja code for a Bet9ja opening bonus.
What Comes Next for Kayode and the NFF
The NFF will continue monitoring Kayode’s situation, as they should. If he becomes available and willing, he would represent a real asset at right-back, a position that has needed strengthening in the Super Eagles setup. But Babayaro’s broader point stands regardless of how the Kayode situation resolves. Building a squad around a core of players who have chosen Nigeria unconditionally, combined with targeted dual-national additions, is a more sustainable model than relying on a revolving door of players who become available only when their preferred options are exhausted.
📌 Did You Know?
- Emmanuel Babayaro was part of the legendary Nigeria squad that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, one of the most celebrated moments in African football history, defeating Brazil in the semi-final and Argentina in the final.
- Michael Kayode scored the winning goal for Italy’s U19 side in the 2023 European Under-19 Championship final against Portugal, a moment that cemented his status as a player the Azzurri youth system invested in heavily.
- Ademola Lookman, now one of Nigeria’s most influential players, initially represented England at Under-20 level before switching to Nigeria in 2019 after failing to break into the senior Three Lions squad.
- Brentford, where Kayode is currently based, have developed a reputation for identifying and developing right-backs with athletic profiles and pace, a recruitment strategy that has produced several players with international potential.
- Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad of 28 players included five foreign-born individuals eligible for other nations, a proportion that has remained relatively consistent across the past three or four AFCON cycles.
- Cyriel Dessers, one of the five foreign-born players in the 2025 AFCON squad, was born in Belgium and represented Belgium at youth level before committing to Nigeria, where he has been a regular senior international since 2022.
- The Nigeria Football Federation has attempted similar dual-national recruitment drives in the past, including approaches to players of Nigerian descent born in England, France, Italy and the United States, with mixed results depending on the individual player’s career stage and ambitions at the time of contact.
