New Telegraph

Nigerian footballers who ditched local women for foreigners

AJIBADE OLUSESAN, in this piece, highlights some of the Nigerian players who married foreign women

DANIEL AMOKACHI

Da Bull was a star of Nigeria’s success at the Tunisia 1994 Nations Cup; he won the hearts of millions of Nigerians with his performance but got another big prize which was love. The former assistant coach of the Super Eagles met his wife, Nadia, in France before the Nations Cup glory but the friendship developed into love and they got married shortly after. Today, the couple is blessed with three kids, with his firstborns being twins who have now taken after their father as footballers.

SUNDAY OLISEH

Oliseh is one of the best midfielders to have played for Nigeria and was a star boy of the 1994-98 generation of the Super Eagles. At the height of his career which took him to Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, the former Juventus midfielder met an Ethiopian lady Hafidah who is also a Belgian citizen. He married his wife shortly after the 1994 World Cup and they have two kids together, a boy and girl.

OSAZE ODEMWINGIE

He is referred to an Oyinbo himself by Nigerian fans and it wasn’t much of a surprise that the former West Brom striker married a white lady. Osaze was so dedicated to Nigeria with his commitment in Eagles’ jersey some fans had suggested he could settle for a Nigerian lady. However, in May 2012 the former Bendel Insurance player married an English woman, Sarah Fallon, whom she met at a local bar. They wedded at a church Northampton after two years of dating.

TIJANI BABANGIDA

Popularly known as Okada, the speedster made a name with Ajax Amsterdam and played at two editions of the FIFA World Cup. He is a very close friend of Amokachi and decided to pick his wife from the same family that his Nigerian friend married from. Babangida, married Rabia Majerie, a sister of the wife of Amokachi, in a civil ceremony held in the Tunisian capital The marriage did not last long as they have both separated. They have one kid together.

MIKEL OBI

Although the former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi is not legally married to his Russian girlfriend, it is believed that the former Chelsea star could walk down the aisle with Olga Diyachenko anytime soon with the way he gushed about their relationship. Mikel and Olga started dating in 2013 after reportedly meeting him in London where her late dad ran a chain of businesses. However, he couple has a twin daughter, Mia and Ava born in September 2016.

JOHN UTAKA

Utaka was a natural successor to Finidi George; he did not only have similar skillsets but his composure and command of the wings were like that of the former Ajax star. Just like his senior colleagues, Utaka chose to ditch Nigerian women for a European. It was such shocking news when former Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu announced on twitter in 2013 that Utaka just got married to a French woman. They got married at a small event ceremony in Paris, France with only few guests in attendance.

PETER SUSWAM

Suswam was a defender who didn’t fully realize his potential; after bursting into the national consciousness with his stellar showing for Lobi Stars, he was invited by the then Super Eagles coach Lars Lagerback for the preparation ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He did not make the cut to the Mundial. However, he moved to Vitoria Setubal in Portugal; although he didn’t quite make it big during his three years stint at the club, he still found love in that country. He has since married his Portuguese girlfriend and are now with kids.

FIDELIS SAVIOUR

The striker spent most of his career at home with success at clubs like Enyimba, Taraba FC and JUTH FC. But had a briefly stint in Malta where he met his Columbia wife Jenny Karina Paez Alvarez. They are blessed with kids.

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