Former England international and Chelsea forward, Eniola Aluko, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to do more to make Nigerian football a compelling choice for dual-nationality players.

Speaking in a recent interview with Spotify, Aluko whose brother, Sone Aluko, played for the Super Eagles stressed that Nigeria must stop being seen as a “plan B” for players who feel sidelined by their countries of birth, especially in Europe.

“England is England,” she said. “A lot of players pick their heritage country only when they believe they can’t break into the England squad. That shouldn't be the story with Nigeria. The country has to make itself an attractive first choice.”

According to her, issues such as poor organization, lack of structure, and minimal investment are still discouraging players who might otherwise commit early to Nigeria.

“It’s not just about talent scouting abroad,” she added. “The NFF must ensure our national teams are well-run, professional, and competitive. That’s how to truly draw in the best of our diaspora.”

Nigeria has recently seen an uptick in foreign-born players donning the green and white. The Super Falcons boast names like Ashleigh Plumptre, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie, and Toni Payne, all raised overseas. The Super Eagles are no different, with stars such as Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Joe Aribo also choosing Nigeria over other eligible nations.

Aluko’s comments come as conversations continue around improving the state of football in Nigeria and harnessing the potential of its vast diaspora talent pool.