Bright Osayi-Samuel, a right-back for Birmingham City, has talked candidly about his choice to play for Nigeria instead of England in international competition.
He claimed that he chose to play for the Super Eagles rather than the Three Lions because of his deep affection for his ancestry and the camaraderie in the Nigerian team.
Osayi-Samuel started six of Nigeria’s seven games during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, making him a vital member of the team.
“My friends have also asked me the same question. For me, because I was so strongly influenced by my country — with my dad and mum exposing me to Nigerian culture, attending Nigerian weddings, enjoying the food and everything — playing in England means you start to play with players who represent their own countries, and you start to understand the importance of playing for England,” Osayi-Samuel said on OmaSportsTV.
“But when it comes to playing football, some people might think playing for England is better, but you don’t experience the other side of it.
“When it comes to how the team works together and the overall feeling, I don’t think you’d notice that kind of connection if you were playing for England.
“Of course, football comes first. See Fulham — the way Bassey, Alex, and Samuel laugh and have fun together comes from the team’s energy and how much they love being part of it.
“I can tell that every single day they are having a great time. When you get to the Nigeria setup, that’s exactly how it is — everyone is having fun.
“You never see any bad feelings; even the players who aren’t playing are smiling and excited about the game and training. This is one of the reasons I will always choose Nigeria first.”
Osayi-Samuel began his career as a winger, but when he switched to right-back, it created a chance that helped shape his journey with the Nigerian team.
“I don’t know if many people know this, but I started out as a winger — right wing, left wing.
“It was when I signed with Fenerbahçe that they wanted me to play as a right-back. At first, I didn’t like it, but over time I started playing more in that position and learning more about it.
“But then I got the chance to play for Nigeria — that’s when I was called up. So I thought, if this is how I get to play for Nigeria, I’ll take it because I’ve always dreamed of representing Nigeria.
“I’ve always believed that since I was young. Nigeria is a country that my mum and dad are really proud of, and I’m proud of it too. For me, getting a call-up was an honor. When I got the call asking if I wanted to play as a right-back, I was really excited.
“That’s one of the main reasons I took the role seriously, because it was a chance for me to play right-back for both my club and my country. Like I said, I’ve never looked back,” Osayi-Samuel added.
Osayi-Samuel’s decision to wear the green and white colours went beyond just football, as it was influenced by his family connections.
“It’s because my mum and dad were really dedicated to making sure I learned about Nigerian culture and the food — I’ve always had that kind of experience since I was little.
“When I was in Spain, it was the same situation. When you come to England, you begin to learn more and play for an English team, and you get more involved with the England setup. But in my mind, I always wanted to play for Nigeria. There are a lot of family friends and relatives in Nigeria — I don’t know most of them, but my mum and dad know them all.
“Every time, they say that I have a lot of family back home who are trying to support me. Tournaments like Afcon are a way for me to give something back to them. Even after the tournament, the love and messages I’ve gotten from people back home have been really amazing.
“I’ve begun meeting new people because of this tournament, and that’s something I really enjoy and love. This is one of the reasons I will always want to play for Nigeria,” he said.
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