Super Eagles lose another star to European giants

The German Football Association have won the battle for highly rated centre-back Nnamdi Collins, ending Nigeria’s hopes of seeing him in Super Eagles colours.

The Eintracht Frankfurt defender made his competitive debut for Germany on Thursday, officially tying his international future to the four-time world champions.

Born in Düsseldorf to a Nigerian father, Collins had been eligible to represent both nations but his first senior appearance for Germany in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia sealed his allegiance.

The 21-year-old was handed a starting role in Bratislava, though his debut proved difficult as he struggled in the first half and was replaced at the break with Germany trailing.

Despite the shaky start, the cap means Collins can no longer switch to Nigeria under FIFA rules, as he is past the age threshold for a change in nationality after making a competitive appearance.

For the Nigeria Football Federation, it marks another near-miss in the pursuit of dual-national talents.

Germany’s success in securing Collins highlights an ongoing challenge for Nigeria, who have seen several high-profile names commit to European giants in recent years.

Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi, Felix and Lukas Nmecha, and Kevin Schade have all pledged their futures to Germany despite Nigerian heritage.

Still, the Super Eagles have scored some wins in this tug-of-war, with Leon Balogun, Jordan Torunarigha, and Kevin Akpoguma representing the green and white at senior level.

There could be another boost soon, as Werder Bremen fullback Felix Agu has reported for international duty with Nigeria and may be cap-tied in this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.