Qatar 2022 : Nigerian-born stars in Qatar

Though the Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria didn’t qualify for a fourth consecutive World Cup after they misplaced on away targets to Ghana, followers can nonetheless watch Nigerians on the event because the nation remains to be represented on the Mundial with some gamers of Nigerian descent flying the flag in Qatar, though enjoying for different nations. Right here, Nigeriasoccernet.com takes a take a look at a few of the gamers

Bukayo Saka (England)

Thought of among the best younger soccer gamers on this planet, Bukayo Saka’s intention in Qatar will embrace making amends for his penalty miss within the closing of final yr’s European Championship.

Winner of Arsenal’s Participant of the Season award during the last two seasons, Saka heads to his first World Cup with extra expertise than many inside his age bracket.

Whereas he might have opted to play for England, his nation of start, Saka’s efficiency within the opening sport thrilled lots of Nigerians.

The 21-year-old scored a brace to assist the Three Lions kick off their 2022 World Cup marketing campaign on a blistering word on Monday, sending a daring assertion as title contenders with a 6-2 win over Iran.

Born in London to Nigerian mother and father, Saka will hope to encourage England (by means of the group stage and problem for an additional World title for England since 1966.) of their second match in opposition to the USA workforce on Friday on the Al Bayt Stadium.

Saka missed the decisive penalty as England misplaced the Euro 2020 closing to Italy 16 months in the past.

However he has bounced again and justified Southgate’s name to start out him forward of Manchester Metropolis’s Phil Foden.

“I can’t describe the sensation, it’s wonderful. I’m so completely happy and so proud. We bought the win as nicely so it’s a actually big day,” Saka stated after the Iran sport.

Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi (Germany):

Born in Germany to a Nigerian Yoruba father and German mom, Musiala was raised from the age of seven in England.

The 19-year-old represented each Germany and England at youth degree, and ultimately pledged his allegiance to the Germany nationwide workforce for future video games in February 2021, representing the facet at UEFA Euro 2020.

The Bayern Munich wonderkid is among the most gifted younger gamers on this planet with 17 caps for Germany at simply 19

After solely enjoying a small half in Germany’s disappointing Euro 2020 marketing campaign, Musiala might nicely be a daily starter below Hansi Flick in Qatar.

Unable to encourage Germany to victory of their opening sport in opposition to Japan regardless of ranging from the kick off, Musiala’s expertise can’t be questioned and he could possibly be essential to any peak Germany attain in Qatar.

One other participant of Nigeria descent representing the German nationwide workforce in Qatar is Karim Adeyemi.

The teenager was born in Munich, Germany, to a Nigerian father and Romanian mom. He’s a youth worldwide for Germany, having represented the Germany under-16s, under-17s and under-21s.

Thought to be a generational expertise, Adeyemi received the 2019 Fritz Walter award for the very best teenager in Germany.

Solely final yr, the previous Salzburg ahead led Germany to victory on the UEFA European Underneath-21 Championship.

And followers will hope Adeyemi may help encourage one other title triumph in Qatar

Ugbo, Adekugbe (Canada):

Ike Ugbo and Sam Adekugbe made the ultimate squad listing for Canada for the 2022 World Cup and can each be hopeful of qualifying for the knockout levels regardless of shedding their first sport in Qatar.

Canada misplaced 1-0 to Belgium on Wednesday evening on the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium the place Ugbo was an unused substitute, whereas Adekugbe got here in for Richie Laryea within the 74th minute and confirmed some glimpse of sophistication.

Canada dominated giant parts of this Group F sport however had been wasteful in entrance of objective, significantly when Alphonso Davies noticed a first-half penalty saved by Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois.

Ugbo was born in Lewisham, Better London, to Nigerian mother and father. He moved to Canada together with his household when he was 4 or 5 which makes him eligible for the nation.

Ugbo earlier declared his intentions to star for Nigeria however later made a u-turn and determined that he was going to characterize Canada as an alternative.

Ugbo’s goal-scoring put him on the radar of a number of nationwide groups. In September 2021, as Ugbo was starting to seek out the again of the online with Genk on a brand new everlasting deal within the Belgian first division, he publicly acknowledged that he would characterize Nigeria.

Ugbo then began the method of submitting a one-time change of affiliation from England to Nigeria which was vital as he beforehand performed aggressive matches for England U17 nationwide workforce.

Nonetheless, the Chelsea academy graduate didn’t really feel needed and the entire eligibility course of was hindered as a result of neither the NFF nor then Tremendous Eagles head Coach, Gernot Rohr reached out.

The opposite Nigerian-born participant within the workforce, Adekugbe is a defender with Turkish Tremendous Lig membership, Hatayspor.

The skilled defender, who performs as a left-back for Turkey’s Tremendous Lig membership Hatayspor, made the 26-player squad set to return — after a long time away — to the much-anticipated worldwide occasion subsequent week in Qatar.

The 27-year-old is a veteran of Canada’s nationwide workforce, having performed 33 video games with the facet. His journey has taken him from minor soccer in Calgary, to Main League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps and better to Brighton & Hove Albion of the English Premier League, IFK Goteborg of Sweden’s Allsvenskan and on to the Norwegian prime flight; the Eliteserien — with Vålerenga Fotball earlier than becoming a member of Hatayspor in 2021.

Alongside Belgium, Canada share Group F with Morocco and Croatia who they face on Sunday.

Manuel Akanji and Noah Okafor ( Switzerland):

Swiss gamers of Nigerian descent Akanji and Okafor had been in motion for Switzerland of their 1-0 win over African facet Cameroon of their Group F first sport on Thursday on the Al Janoub Stadium.

Akanji was within the beginning lineup and was spectacular throughout the period of the match as he helped Switzerland preserve a clear sheet.

The 27-year-old defender who moved to Man Metropolis in the summertime, having signed from Borussia Dortmund for £15million has been a standout performer.

The 22-year-old Okafor who plies his commerce for Bundesliga facet Crimson Bull Salzburg got here in as a second-half substitute for Chicago Fireplace winger Xherdan Shaqiri within the 72nd minute and was commanding within the center for the Swiss.

Switzerland’s Breel Embolo scored the one objective in opposition to Cameroon – the nation of his start – in a hard-fought World Cup Group G opener.

For Switzerland, the win offers them respiratory house earlier than their match in opposition to Brazil on Monday.

Nigerians will probably be hoping Akanji and Okafor lead Switzerland to World Cup heaven.

Noah Okafor was born in Binningen, Switzerland, to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mom.

Okafor’s expertise was noticed when he was with the Basel youth academy, and the ahead had been part of the Swiss youth system for the reason that under-15s.

The Salzburg winger made his debut for Switzerland in 2019. And his spot in Qatar was sealed final November when he scored a objective within the win over Bulgaria that secured computerized qualification for Switzerland to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Additionally born to a Swiss mom and a Nigerian father, Manuel Akanji might have been enjoying for the Tremendous Eagles however the centre-back’s development from the Swiss youth groups to the nationwide facet was accomplished in 2017.

And after amassing 43 worldwide caps for the Crimson Crosses, Akanji is among the most skilled heads within the Swiss camp in Qatar.

And the Manchester Metropolis defender will goal an improve to the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, the place his workforce completed fourth.