Bafana Bafana close in on Nigeria-eligible defender Ime Okon

By Dayo Awoniyi

South Africa appear to have gained ground in the tug-of-war for highly rated centre-back Ime Okon after naming the Nigeria-eligible youngster in their latest provisional squad.

Okon, 20, was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother, but has largely grown up under his mother’s care following his father’s passing.

That dual background leaves him eligible for both nations, sparking debate over where his international future lies.

The towering defender, who broke through with SuperSport United in 2023, now plays in Germany with Bundesliga 2 side Hannover 96. His rise in Europe has intensified interest from both countries.

Bafana legend Andre Arendse has previously urged South Africa to secure the player’s commitment, warning that losing him to Nigeria would be a major blow.

“Ime Okon is a super talent, but we better be careful we don’t lose him,” Arendse cautioned.

“He is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I’ve had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.”

Okon’s international journey has been stop-start. He was first named in a Bafana preliminary squad in 2023 for World Cup qualifiers but failed to make the final list.

Since then, his stock has grown with 18 league appearances in the DStv Premiership, six continental games, and now a move abroad.

Despite multiple call-ups from coach Hugo Broos, he is still awaiting his senior debut.

With Nigeria yet to make a formal approach and boasting a deep pool of defenders, South Africa look poised to secure his allegiance if he features in the coming fixtures.

For now, Okon’s inclusion in Broos’ squad signals Bafana’s determination to tie down one of Africa’s most promising young defenders before the Super Eagles enter the race.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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