Cymru and Africa (pt.10) – Nigeria
Part 9 in our blog series exploring links between Cymru and members of the Confederation of African Football. Previous blogs have visited:
- pt. 9 – Zambia, Guinea-Bissau and Congo
- pt. 8 – Algeria, Burundi, Tanzania & Ethiopia
- pt. 7 – Angola, Benin and Uganda
- pt. 6 – Gabon and Sierra Leone
- pt. 5 – Morocco
- pt. 4 – Zimbabwe, Guinea and Eritrea
- pt. 3 – Gambia and Egypt
- pt. 2 – AFCON23 hosts Côte D’Ivoire
- pt. 1 – Tunisia
Nigeria
Given Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth most populous in the world, there’s little surprise that there have been many players from Nigeria and of Nigerian descent in Wales. Including:
Adebayo Akinfenwa who is of Yoruban Nigerian descent played a handful of games for Barry Town in 2003 and then returned to the English system playing for several clubs before settling at Torquay from where Swansea City signed ‘The Beast’ in 2005 for £85,000. Akinfenwa scored the first competitive goal at the Liberty Stadium. Uncapped.
Osebi Abadaki is currently playing for Bala Town. Started his career at Blackburn before dropping into non-league with the likes of Hyde, Stafford Rangers, Stalybridge Celtic and Matlock. Uncapped.
Kelvin Etuhu came through the ranks at Man City with his elder brother Dickson. Unlike Dickson, Kelvin expressed an interest at first representing England but despite expressing confidence in playing alongside him for the Super Eagles, it never happened. He signed for Cardiff City on a season-long loan for 2009-10 but an early injury stalled his progress. He came on for Jay Bothroyd in the Championship play-off final, but on his return to Manchester he was omitted from City’s Premier League squad for the 2010–11 season in which he was later jailed for his part in a brawl outside a casino he Championship play-off final at Wembley. Uncapped.
Peter Odemwingie was eligible for Nigeria (dad), Russia (mother) and Uzbekistan where his parents were medical students. Signed for Cardiff City in September 2013 by Malky Mackay he had departed for Stoke four months and one goal later by which time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had taken over in Leckwith. Despiote falling out with numerous Nigerian managers, Odemwingie has captained the Super Eagles and played at numerous AFCONs. Between 2002 and 2014 he won 65 caps (11 goals).
Seyi Olofinjana signed on loan from Hull by Dave Jones – with whom Olofinjana had worked previously at Wolves – after the Tigers’ relegation from the EPL. Born in Lagos, the man mountain won 48 caps for Nigeria retiring on 48 caps after Nigeria finished third in AFCON 2010, but in which he only figured once in the bronze medal match.
Nwankwo Kanu played 86 times for Nigeria> he never played in Wales, but he did break many Welsh hearts when he scored the winner in the 2008 FA Cup Final for Portsmouth against Cardiff City.
Nigerian u20 international Sami Ajayi signed on loan for Cardiff City towards the end of the 2014-15 season. After being released by parent club Arsenal, Ajayi stayed on at Cardiff on a permanent deal but only ever made the bench in two League Cups games in a season and a half, spending much of the time out on loan. His career has taken an upturn since leaving south Wales, including winning almost 30 Nigerian caps.
Dele Adebola scored two goals in four appearances for Bangor City in 1993-94 on loan from Crewe Alexandra whom he joined after a YTS spell at Liverpool, where his family settled after leaving Lagos when Adebola was a child. Eligible for all the home nations via a British passport he was first called by Northern Ireland in 1998 but had to withdraw due to injury. Despite continuing to express interest in playing for NI, he was selected in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 1998 World Cup, but failed to make the cut. Adebola then began to feel an England cap might be within reach and seemed to cool on NI. Either way he claimed not to be interested in representing Nigeria…only to be selected in their provisional 2000 AFCON squad. In the end he never played international football for anyone.
Yemi Odubade – journeyman non-league striker who played 11 games on loan at Newport County in 2011.
Obi Anoruo and Vincent Atueyi count Haverfordwest, Newtown, Airbus and Wrexham among their Welsh clubs.
Sergio Uyi – Nigerian-born, Italian-raised centre back whose nomadic career since leaving Torino’s academy has taken in clubs in Lithuania, Finland, Germany, Malta, Sudan, Malta, Romania, Oman and Wales where he played six games in 2017 for Bangor City.
Abiodun Baruwa – five times capped Nigerian goalkeeper was selected in the Nigeria squad for 1998 FIFA World Cup and later signed for Barry Town in January 2003 going on to win the league and Welsh Cup double. During his stay, in a match against Bangor City, he was racially abused and confronted by an fan on the pitch. Failing to obtain a work permit Baruwa later departed for Dagenham & Redbridge, but still couldn’t obtain the requisite paperwork to be paid. Nevertheless he played second fiddle to Wales international Tony Roberts for the Daggers. With the Nigeria national team, he was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Ismail Yakubu – England C international Yakubu was born in Lagos but raised in London where he spent almost 15 years with Barnet from the age of 11. Yakubu later signed for Newport County and was part of their promotion winning squad in 2013, his third career promotion from the fifth tier. In 2015 he departed Rodney Parade and returned to non-league before returning to Wales to sign for Merthyr Town, whose COVID-19 enforced financial difficulties saw them withdraw from the league and prompt Yakubu to sign for Penybont. He later returned to Penydarren Park but is now retired.
