'I get a lot of stick from Nigerians' – Lagos-born Chelsea legend explains why she chose England

Retired England international Eniola Aluko has revealed the circumstances behind her decision to represent the Lionesses instead of Nigeria, the country of her birth, unlike her brother Sone Aluko, who played for the Super Eagles.

Born in Lagos, Aluko amassed more than 100 caps for England before calling time on her international career in 2016.

Additionally, the Chelsea legend represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games, where she started all the four matches.

Aluko enjoyed a glittering playing career at Chelsea Women, spending eight years at the Blues, and was the club's all-time top scorer with 68 goals in 158 appearances before she was overtaken by Fran Kirby in December 2020.

She has revealed that the decision to represent the Lionesses was never entirely hers to make, suggesting that circumstances, rather than personal choice, ultimately shaped her international career.

Aluko, who played for England for eleven years, noted that the Super Falcons wasn't a visible or accessible option at the time she began her journey.

"I get asked this a lot. The difference between me and Sone is that he had a choice. I didn't really have a choice," Eniola Aluko said on The Obi One podcast. 

"I first got into the England youth teams when I was 14 and this is when women's football was just not what it is now, like there was no level of investment.

"The Nigerian national team wasn't a thing, I didn't even know it was an option to be honest. When you play in England, being in the national team is an immediate option."

Despite her success with England, Aluko admitted she still receives criticism from Nigerians for her choice.

"I get asked a lot, I get a lot of stick as well from Nigerians. I can't reverse the decision but I am very proud of playing for England.

"I'm very proud of what I achieved, I got 104 caps over 11 years which I never thought I was able to be going to achieve, but I supported my brother playing for Nigeria. 

"I went to a few games of his, I remember going to Egypt to watch him play and obviously I support Nigeria."

Eniola is now more connected to Nigerian football and was recently in Morocco to support the Super Falcons.

"Now I am connected with other Nigerian female players, so I'm trying to do my bit for not playing for Nigeria,” she said.

When asked how she would feel if given the chance to go back and make the decision again, the 38-year-old stood by her career path but offered insights into the current realities facing dual-national players.

"I'm genuinely proud of my England career and I worked very hard to stay in that team. I grew up in England and that's my footballing background too.

"What a lot of national teams are doing now is giving the diaspora the options to play for your country of heritage.

"I think the players that grew up here and chose to play for their country of heritage, it's usually because they feel like they can't make a career for England. It's almost a default decision which it shouldn't be.”

Aluko retired from professional football in 2020 and currently works in football administration and media.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com 

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