Birmingham City right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel has opened up about his decision to represent Nigeria rather than England at the international level.
He said that his strong feelings for his heritage and the team spirit in the Nigerian squad made him choose to represent the Super Eagles over the The Three Lions.
Osayi-Samuel was a key player for Nigeria during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, and he started in six out of the team’s seven matches.
His biggest moment was in the important semifinal match against Morocco in Rabat, where he showed calm and solid defense.
Nigeria played a strong, defensive game and kept the Atlas Lions from scoring for 120 minutes, but they lost in the end after the match went to penalties.
Osayi-Samuel was born in Okija to parents from Nigeria. He was also able to play for England because he lived there for fourteen years.
He made his first competitive appearance for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Guinea-Bissau while the team was coached by José Peseiro, which was also his first cap and officially marked his commitment to playing for Nigeria.
When asked if he would have played for England if the chance came up, Osayi-Samuel thought about his growing up and the culture that shaped him.
“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.
The 28-year-old Osayi-Samuel has gotten 32 caps for the Super Eagles since he first played for the national team in a big friendly match against Portugal.
