AFCON 2025: 3 Nigerians set to represent other countries in Morocco after ditching Super Eagles

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco is set to feature several players born to Nigerian parents or raised within Nigeria’s football culture who will line up for other nations, often after career choices or international circumstances redirected their allegiance.

For some, the decision was born out of opportunity rather than rejection; for others, it followed years on the fringes of Super Eagles consideration.

As AFCON 2025 approaches, three such players stand out, each with a personal storyline that makes the tournament narrative more exciting.

Uche Ikpeazu’s international journey tells the story of a physically imposing forward whose career unfolded largely outside the Nigerian football spotlight.

Born in London to an Igbo Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother, Ikpeazu developed through the English academy system, notably at Reading and later Watford, where he spent several years under contract without a first-team breakthrough.

His professional career became defined by constant movement, with loan spells across the English Football League before permanent stints at Cambridge United, Hearts, Wycombe Wanderers, Middlesbrough, Cardiff City, and clubs in Turkey and Scotland.

Despite early promise, including a prolific final season at Reading’s academy level, Ikpeazu never came close to Super Eagles selection during Nigeria’s depth-heavy attacking eras. Uganda offered a clearer pathway.

After delays caused by club commitments and the pandemic, he finally made his senior international debut in September 2025, scoring momentum-building minutes ahead of AFCON.

His inclusion carries extra weight, as Uganda share a group with Nigeria in Morocco, meaning Ikpeazu will face his father’s nation at the AFCON.

Junior Olaitan was shaped almost entirely in Nigeria despite representing Benin at international level. Born in Benin to a Nigerian father and Beninese mother, Olaitan was raised in Nigeria and developed his game there before launching a professional career in West Africa.

His rise began at Ayéma Adjarra, where his goal-scoring output as a midfielder earned attention beyond Benin’s domestic scene.

A move to France with Niort introduced him to European football, followed by spells at Troyes, Grenoble, and eventually Göztepe in Turkey.

During that progression, Benin moved quickly to secure his international future, and Olaitan debuted in World Cup qualifying in 2021 and has since become a regular presence. Nigeria’s stacked midfield options meant opportunities were limited, while Benin offered clarity and continuity.

Olaitan has already faced Nigeria multiple times in competitive fixtures, even providing an assist against the Super Eagles, experiences that have hardened his competitive edge.

At AFCON 2025, he arrives as a mature, European-tested midfielder with intimate familiarity with Nigerian football culture, positioning him as a key figure in Benin’s efforts to disrupt more fancied opponents.

Aiyegun Tosin is a more direct example of a Nigerian-born player building an international career elsewhere.

Born in Lagos, Tosin developed at Real Sapphire FC before seeking opportunities abroad, beginning a journey through Latvia, Switzerland, and eventually France. His move to Zurich marked his European breakthrough, while a €4 million transfer to Lorient in 2023 put him in mainstream European football.

Despite his Nigerian roots, Tosin never featured in Super Eagles plans during his formative years. Benin, however, acted decisively, calling him up in 2022. He scored on his international debut and has since remained part of the national setup, offering versatility across the front line.

His club career has added resilience, particularly as he continued contributing through Lorient’s relegation battles, maintaining form amid adversity.

Like Olaitan, Tosin has faced Nigeria several times in qualifiers, including the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, which the Super Eagles won 4-0.