Nigerian dad reacts to Okoli’s first senior call up by Italy

The Italian Football Federation has taken steps to secure Leicester City defender Caleb Okoli by including him in their 23 man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against France and Israel. If Okoli, who was born in Vicenza, makes his senior debut during these matches, he will be officially cap tied to Italy.

Despite being eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents, Paul and Tina Okoli, who moved to Italy in 1996, Okoli seems set to commit his international future to the country of his birth. Okoli had previously attracted the attention of Nigeria’s national team coach, Jose Peseiro, who had tasked fellow Nigerian international Ademola Lookman with convincing Okoli to switch allegiances to the Super Eagles. However, Lookman’s efforts appear unsuccessful, as Okoli has already reported for international duty with Italy and participated in training at the Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano.

Paul Okoli, Caleb’s father, expressed his pride and excitement over his son’s call up, stating that the family plans to attend the match if Caleb makes his debut for Italy. He also reflected on the process of obtaining Italian citizenship, noting that Caleb could only represent Italy at the youth level after turning 18.

Okoli has previously trained with the Italian national team under former manager Roberto Mancini and participated in two training camps in January and May 2022. His inclusion in the senior squad follows the path of other players like Michael Folorunsho and Destiny Udogie, who have also been cap tied to Italy.

Editorial

The decision of Caleb Okoli to pursue an international career with Italy rather than Nigeria is a significant moment for both countries’ footballing futures. For Italy, securing a talented defender like Okoli strengthens their defensive options for years to come. For Nigeria, however, this represents a missed opportunity to add another top quality player to their ranks.

This scenario highlights the challenges that dual-national players face when choosing their international allegiances. While Nigeria has successfully convinced players like Ademola Lookman to represent the Super Eagles, the allure of playing for a historically successful team like Italy can be hard to resist.

It also raises questions about how countries like Nigeria can better engage with their diaspora talent to ensure that they don’t lose out on promising players. The efforts of coaches and players like Lookman to sway Okoli are commendable, but this case underscores the need for a more systematic approach to securing dual national players.

As Okoli prepares to possibly make his debut for Italy, Nigerian football fans will be watching with mixed emotions. While they may wish him success, there will undoubtedly be a lingering sense of what could have been had he chosen to don the green and white of the Super Eagles.

Did You Know?

1. Caleb Okoli was born in Vicenza, Italy, to Nigerian parents and became an Italian citizen at the age of 18.
2. Okoli has been on the radar of the Nigerian national team, with efforts made to convince him to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria.
3. If Okoli makes his debut for Italy in the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, he will be cap tied to Italy, meaning he cannot switch to another national team.
4. Italy has a history of integrating players of Nigerian descent into their national team, including Destiny Udogie and Michael Folorunsho.
5. The process of obtaining citizenship in Italy is different from many other countries, often requiring individuals to wait until they reach adulthood to represent the country in sports.