Obi Mikel: “I’ve had meetings with these boys and their parents, and I’ve told them: ‘You are from Nigeria. Your father is Nigerian and your mother is Nigerian. Why don’t you represent your homeland

Obi Mikel: “I’ve had meetings with these boys and their parents, and I’ve told them: ‘You are from Nigeria. Your father is Nigerian and your mother is Nigerian. Why don’t you represent your homeland?’

And then they wait… they keep waiting, and when they reach 25 or 26 and don’t get called up by England, that’s when they call Nigeria or Cameroon. And we become the second option.

We shouldn’t be treated like that — we are not a second choice. You should be proud of your African roots and represent your country. I want the best players to play for Africa. If you make a decision, you should stick to it. If you choose to play for England, then stay there. Sit down and wait.