Has Caleb Okoli’s Super Eagles dream ended with Leicester City’s drop to League One?

For a long time, Caleb Okoli looked like the next big thing in defence for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Afrik-Foot reports.

Tall, strong, and calm on the ball, he was exactly the type of centre-back the Super Eagles had been searching for.

Born in Vicenza, Italy, Okoli began his journey at his hometown club before moving to Atalanta’s famous youth academy in 2015. It was there that he truly stood out. During the 2019–20 season, he helped Atalanta’s Under-19 side win both the Campionato Primavera 1 and the Supercoppa Primavera. At just 18, he was already being talked about as a future star.

That reach of that rise touched the shores of Nigeria and alerted the country’s football administrators. As early as 2019, the Nigeria Football Federation had started monitoring him closely. There were early signs of a ‘tug-of-war’ between Nigeria and Italy, with both countries aware of his potential.

Okoli’s development continued through a series of well-planned loan moves. At SPAL, he made his professional debut in November 2020 and scored his first goal against Lecce in April 2021. At Cremonese, he became a regular starter and helped the club gain promotion to Serie A. Later, at Frosinone, he played 37 matches in all competitions, showing consistency and durability.

By the time he returned to Atalanta and made his Serie A debut in August 2022, he had built a strong reputation. For Nigeria, this was the moment. The sense was clear: this could be the next ‘golden boy’ in defence, someone to lead the backline for years.

But the story would take a different turn.

Caleb Okoli: Choosing Italy but still waiting

Despite Nigeria’s long-standing interest, Okoli’s focus remained firmly on Italy. He represented the country at Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21 levels, and in September 2024, he received his first senior call-up under Luciano Spalletti for UEFA Nations League matches against France and Israel.

That call-up looked like a decisive moment. It seemed to confirm that Okoli had made his choice.

However, two years later, one key detail still stands out: he has not played a single competitive senior match for Italy. He has been in squads, trained with the team, and waited on the bench, but the debut has not come.

This is important. Under FIFA rules, Okoli remains eligible to play for Nigeria because he has not been capped competitively at senior level. In the past, he suggested that if Italy did not give him that chance, he might reconsider his options. But football moves quickly, and opportunities do not wait forever.

That delay now links directly to his club situation, something that may shape his international future more than ever before.

Leicester’s fall and its impact

When Okoli joined Leicester City in July 2024 for around €14 million, it looked like a smart move. The club needed defensive strength, and he was seen as a physical powerhouse who could help them survive in the Premier League.

Instead, things went badly wrong. During the 2024–25 season, Leicester conceded 80 goals and were relegated. Okoli made 19 league appearances and scored once, but the defence struggled throughout.

The following season in the Championship did not bring improvement. Okoli played 29 matches, but Leicester managed just five clean sheets as a team. A key moment came in January 2026, when he was sent off after just 15 minutes against Charlton, a match Leicester went on to lose 2-0.

By April 21, relegation to League One was confirmed after a 2-2 draw with Hull City. It marked the club’s first time in the third tier in 142 years. Notably, Okoli was not even in the squad for that decisive match.

This is where the central question becomes clearer. For a player once seen as a rising star, being part of a defence that suffered back-to-back relegations raises concerns. It affects perception, confidence, and, crucially, international selection. If Nigeria had once viewed him as a future leader, that belief now looks weaker.

Chelle’s options and a closing door?

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is not short of defensive options, and that matters.

At the heart of the team, Semi Ajayi remains a leader, while Calvin Bassey continues to grow into a reliable, versatile centre-back. Chidozie Awaziem offers experience and flexibility, especially in a back three.

Beyond them, new names are pushing through. Igoh Ogbu has impressed with strong, aggressive performances in Europe. Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez and Brentford youngster Benjamin Fredericks represent younger options already being integrated into the squad. Jordan Torunarigha, despite limited caps, brings Bundesliga experience and quality.

This depth changes the conversation.
Where Okoli was once a priority target, he is now just one of many options and arguably not the strongest one at the moment. His lack of international experience, combined with Leicester’s struggles, puts him behind others who are playing at a higher level or performing more consistently.

The earlier point returns here: timing matters. Nigeria showed interest early, but Okoli waited for Italy. Now, as he waits for a debut that has not come, Nigeria may have moved on.

A future still possible but fading

Technically, the door is not fully closed. Okoli is still eligible for Nigeria, and a strong move away from Leicester or a return to top-level football could quickly change his situation.

But football decisions are rarely just about eligibility. They are about form, timing, and trust. Right now, the signs suggest that the Super Eagles door is no longer wide open. It is, at best, slightly ajar. And unless something changes quickly, for both club and country, that door may soon shut completely.