Ex-Chelsea and Nigeria star John Obi Mikel made a lot of noise by criticising foreign-born players who chose African countries as they second choice.He said that on his The Obi One podcast on Friday while talking about African talents and their decision to represent the fatherland only after others don’t give them a call up.”I’ve talked so much about players not representing their African roots. We’ve held meetings with these kids, with their parents and said, ‘Listen, you are Nigerian, your dad is Nigeria, your mum is Nigerian, why don’t you represent your fatherland, Nigeria?,” the 37-year-old said, before adding:”We wanna play for England, France, whatever it is, and then they wait, and then they keep waiting and keep waiting. 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. We’re not second options. You should be proud of your African roots, you should be proud to represent your African country.”Agree or Disagree with Mikel Obi??? pic.twitter.com/5RX24jOPPJ— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) July 26, 2024 Obi is adamant that the very best of African talents need their country of origin to make a name for themselves.”I want the best players to play in Africa, so you’d rather make a decision when you are 17,18 and stand by it. 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 until 29, 30, you’ve passed your best or whatever it is, then you’re ‘Oh, Nigerian FA, I’m ready to play for you now’. No, f**k off mate,” Obi Mikel concluded.##NAJAVA_MECA_8234752##
