Former England and Chelsea forward, Eniola Aluko, has shed light on why she chose to represent the Three Lionesses instead of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, despite being born in Lagos to Nigerian parents.
Unlike her younger brother, Sone Aluko, who opted to wear the green and white jersey of Nigeria, Eniola carved out a stellar career with England, earning over 100 caps before retiring from international football in 2016.
The former Chelsea striker was a key figure for Great Britain during the 2012 Olympic Games, where she featured in all four of the team’s matches.
At club level, Aluko spent eight successful years at Chelsea, becoming the Blues’ all-time leading scorer with 68 goals in 158 appearances, a record that stood until Fran Kirby surpassed it in December 2020.
Speaking on The Obi One podcast, Aluko explained that her decision to play for England wasn’t a calculated choice but a product of circumstances.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Aluko acknowledged receiving criticism from some Nigerians for not representing her country of birth but expressed pride in her achievements.
“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.”
Though her career path led her away from the Super Falcons, Aluko remains connected to Nigeria through family and pride, both as a fan and a sister.
