Former Chelsea striker and England international Eni Aluko has said Nigerian football must improve in structure, competitiveness, and professionalism if it wants to attract more players with dual nationality. She called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make the national team an appealing first choice, not a backup option for those unable to play for other countries.

Aluko, whose brother Sone Aluko played for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, chose to represent England during her career. She explained that while many players of Nigerian descent grow up abroad, they often pick other nations because they believe Nigeria isn’t as competitive or well-organized. She said players shouldn’t have to view Nigeria as a second option, but instead as a place where they can thrive.

In a recent Spotify interview, Aluko said most players raised in countries like England only consider their heritage countries when their chances of playing for their birth nation seem slim. She stressed that this shouldn’t be the case, and it’s up to Nigeria to change the narrative by building a better football environment.

She also pointed out that issues such as poor investment, weak organization, and a lack of professionalism are still holding Nigerian football back. To compete with the best in the world and keep its talent, the country must fix these long-standing problems.

Nigeria has seen a rise in dual-nationality players joining its teams. The Super Falcons now feature foreign-raised stars like Ashleigh Plumptre, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie, and Toni Payne. On the men’s side, players such as Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Joe Aribo also turned down other options to represent Nigeria.

Aluko’s comments serve as a wake-up call to Nigerian football authorities. For the country to grow and attract top-level talent, it must become more organized, professional, and competitive — not just rely on patriotic sentiment.