I regret not playing for Nigeria’s Super Eagles – Ex-Man City star on waiting in vain for England

Former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha has opened up about one of the biggest regrets of his football career, Afrik-Foot reports.

Onuoha has confessed that turning down the chance to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles while hoping for a call-up from England that never came will remain a regret he will never get over.

Onuoha, who was born in Warri, Nigeria, but grew up in Manchester, came through the youth system at Man City and quickly built a reputation as a fast, intelligent defender. He represented England at several youth levels and even captained the Under-21 side, which made many believe a senior call-up would eventually follow.

About the same time, the Nigeria Football Federation made several attempts to convince him to switch allegiance and represent the Super Eagles. Nigeria saw him as a strong defensive option during a period when the team was rebuilding.
However, that move never happened.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘In The Mixer’ podcast, Onuoha admitted that rejecting Nigeria is something that still weighs on him.

“Looking back on my career, there are lots of things where I wish I had done something differently, even though at the time it made perfect sense to me.

“I regret not playing international football.”

AFCON timing and Man City battle

Onuoha explained that his decision was largely influenced by his situation at club level, particularly during a crucial period in his career at Manchester City.

At the time, Italian coach Roberto Mancini had just taken charge at City, and competition for places in defence had become intense. Young Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata had broken into the team, putting Onuoha under pressure to fight for his spot.

“Coming through the City academy and being a supporter of the club, nothing was more important to me than playing for City,” Onuoha said.

“Mancini had just arrived at the club, and then Dedryck Boyata came from the reserves and started playing ahead of me.”

He added that the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations, played between January and February, made the decision even more complicated.

“Thinking from the football standpoint, I realised going away for six weeks because of AFCON might not put me in a better position at City when I got back.

“In those times, AFCON wasn’t as big as now. Most African players were not signed because AFCON was in that window.”

Onuoha feared that leaving Manchester mid-season could cost him his place permanently, especially at a time when he was still trying to establish himself in the first team. But that decision came with consequences beyond football.

“I was put in the bracket of players that would rather beg to play for England than choose to play for Nigeria, and once you’ve been painted with that brush, it’s done.”

Despite his strong performances at youth level, the long-awaited England senior call-up never arrived. Onuoha eventually left Manchester City in 2010 for Sunderland, before later enjoying a long spell with Queens Park Rangers and finishing his career in the United States.

He retired from professional football in 2020, bringing an end to a solid 16-year career, but one without a single senior international cap.