William Osula: Why Newcastle United forward should choose the Super Eagles

Newcastle United forward William Osula could become the latest addition to the Super Eagles setup in the coming weeks, Afrik-Foot reports.

Afrik-Foot previously revealed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had approached the representatives of the Denmark-born striker about a possible switch of allegiance, which could see the 22-year-old put on the famous green and white jersey of the three-time African champions.

The Super Eagles are entering a period of transition after missing out on two consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, and as part of efforts to avoid another setback, preparations for a rebuild have already started.

Although Osula has previously represented Denmark at youth level and has received senior call-ups, he is yet to make his debut. That leaves the door open for Nigeria and if things progress smoothly, he could even be in line for a maiden call-up ahead of the Unity Cup in May.

With a potential switch on the table, Afrik-Foot highlights three reasons the Newcastle United forward could choose to represent Nigeria:

Osula: Major part of Nigeria’s long-term rebuild

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for back-to-back World Cups marked the first time since their debut at the 1994 tournament in the United States, which represents a new low in the country’s football history.  

In response, the NFF has started planning ahead to avoid the setback of missing the 2030 edition, and Osula could emerge as a central figure of this rebuild.

By the time the 2030 World Cup arrives, he would be around 26 years old, while the Super Eagles current attacking options like Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Cyriel Dessers would all be over 30, which presents the opportunity for the Newcastle United forward to possibly become the focal point of Nigeria’s attack in the future.

Newcastle star with strong Nigerian roots

William Osula has never hidden his Nigerian heritage and often expresses it proudly. He is also known to speak pidgin English, which is peculiar to Nigeria.

The 22-year-old also shared a memorable moment with his Newcastle United teammates, Joe Willock and Alexander Isak, now at Liverpool, enjoying traditional Nigerian dishes sometimes last year.

I don cook fufu and oha for my boys pic.twitter.com/j9sUi6Iahm

— Epl Pidgin (@EplPidgin) May 1, 2025

Moments like these show a strong connection to his roots and representing Nigeria would feel natural for him and would make his integration into the squad very smooth.

Bigger opportunity to shine on the international stage

Despite being called up by Denmark for important matches against North Macedonia and the Czech Republic, William Osula remained an unused substitute. While those games were crucial in their World Cup push, he was not given a chance and this could influence his decision going forward.

With Nigeria, he would likely enjoy a more central role, especially as the team looks to build for the future.

The Super Eagles also consistently compete for honours in Africa, having secured silver and bronze medals in the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. In contrast, Denmark have found it difficult at major tournaments, with their last major trophy dating back to 1992, when they won the European Championships.

While the decision rests with Osula, choosing Nigeria would present a big opportunity for regular international football and a chance to become the central role in the country’s football rebuild.