Saka's first career hat-trick for England: Nigeria missed out on a jewel

England on Monday night beat North Macedonia 7-0 to increase the chances of the Three Lions qualifying for the UEFA Euro Championship in 2024.

The highlight of the game was the hat-trick of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka - the first of his international career in England's white and blue.

The performance of Saka was well greeted in the British isle but it was not so greeted with encomiums in Nigeria.

This is because the Arsenal star was born to Nigerian parents but he choose to represent England.

Saka played for England at the 2022 FIFA World Cups and also at the Euro 2020 tournament.

Those images of the player doing so well for Gareth Southgate's team elicit sense of bitterness on the streets of Lagos, Offa and indeed most parts of Nigeria.

It is worth noting that Saka though has his Nigerian supporters who backed his decision to play for England and not the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Nigeria Football Federation did not press much for his change of allegiance but more pointedly, the NFF are berserk with administrative issues and lack of welfare plans for past and current players.

A good way to arrest the development of seeing Nigeria-eligible players turning out for other nations is to ensure that the welfare of the players and technical team including the past heroes of the team are adequately taken care of.

A player who retired playing for England - whether he had 100 caps or just one cap - is assured of being looked after by the English Football Association.

However, on a very good note, it is reassuring that most of the Nigerian born players are proud of their roots and if these issues are taken care of, the loss of talents like Saka, and a few others like him, would end or be greatly minimized.

Izuchukwu Michael

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