Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, believes Nigeria possesses enough football talent around the world to compete for the FIFA World Cup, insisting the country must no longer allow players of Nigerian heritage to strengthen other national teams.
Olopade made the remarks during the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee multi-sport event held at the Hertfordshire Sports Village in the United Kingdom, where sports administrators, former internationals and young athletes gathered to launch a renewed drive to identify and integrate Nigerian talents living abroad.
The NSC boss said the Federal Government has given the commission a clear mandate to actively search for athletes of Nigerian origin across the globe and provide them with genuine opportunities to represent the country.
According to him, the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of ensuring talented Nigerians, regardless of where they were born or raised, remain connected to their roots.
“Yesterday I addressed the Commonwealth Team in Aberdeen and it was a composition of about 60 per cent athletes from the diaspora,” Olopade said.
“We have been given the mandate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to comb for athletes of Nigerian origin across the world, no matter where they are.”
The former Ogun State Sports Commissioner argued that Nigeria has repeatedly watched elite talents flourish for other countries despite their Nigerian heritage.
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Using the recently concluded FIFA World Cup as an example, Olopade suggested Nigeria’s fortunes could have been significantly different had more diaspora players chosen to wear the green and white.
“Let’s just look at the World Cup and see how easily we would have won the World Cup with our children.”
He added:
“Eighteen of our boys played for other national teams, three played for England. Enough is enough.”
Creating opportunities, not just making appeals
Rather than relying solely on emotional appeals, Olopade said Nigeria intends to build a sustainable system that gives diaspora athletes confidence that choosing the country is worthwhile.
He stressed that the commission’s responsibility extends beyond recruiting elite performers, with plans already in place to identify and nurture talents from an early age.
“We want to take care of our children from a very young age to elite sports.”
“Nigeria has the resources to take care of our young athletes and we will do that.”
Olopade also urged young athletes of Nigerian descent not to lose faith in the opportunities available at home, assuring them that the current administration is committed to supporting their development.
“These countries only reckon with you when you are doing well and discard you when you are done. But for Nigeria, you will always be a Nigerian.”
“When you think there is no hope, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, there is renewed hope for all of you. Take advantage of this platform to show the world that you are gifted and we are here to support you.”
An ideal long-term investment
The maiden Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee event formed part of the National Sports Commission’s broader strategy to identify, develop and integrate athletes of Nigerian heritage into the country’s sporting system.
The programme attracted young athletes across multiple sports alongside parents, coaches, administrators and Nigerian sporting legends.
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Among those present were NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, Olympic gold medallist Chioma Ajunwa Oparah, former Super Eagles players Carl Ikeme and Seyi Olofinjana, former D’Tigress captain Dr Sarah Ogoke and seven times Olympian Funke Oshonaike.
