The story of Felix Agu should in a way serve as a lesson to players who have dual nationalities when it comes to making a decision on the national team they want to represent.
Agu was sighted by coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr while watching a second division game in Germany with the then 19 year old turning out for Osnabruck.
Rohr was mightily impressed by his potential and immediately established contacts with his representatives in view of getting him to commit to Nigeria.
As at that time he hasn’t played for Germany at any level and his representatives jumped at the prospect of him linking up with the Super Eagles.
Germany U21 handlers were soon alerted to the talents of the right back and immediately extended an invitation to him to be a part of their national team, around same time Nigeria were set to name their squad for their international round of games.
He was left with the option of picking one of the two teams and he went for Germany which his agent as at that time said is the best option for him as he was born and brought up in Germany.
“ It’s the best for now and even though we don’t know what the future holds. Playing for Nigeria wouldn’t have been bad but Germany made him who he is, so his loyalty should firstly be to them “, he told German publication Kicker.
Fast forward to now and Agu has since moved up the ladder to the Bundesliga where he has played 13 games with a goals and assist to his name this season for Werder Bremen.
However that telling contribution wasn’t seen as good enough for him to make the German U21 team for the European Championship. Something that will no doubt hurt him as he could have easily be with the Nigerian team preparing for the 2022 AFCON qualifiers.