Felix Agu: Connecting With Roots Or Joining The Bandwagon?

According to Nigeria Football Federation’s latest Super Eagles recruit, Felix Agu, his desire to connect to his roots was what inspired his resolve to don the green and white colours of Nigeria in spite of having starred for Germany at Under 21 level. Kunle Adewale, however, asks whether connecting to his roots or failure to get a senior German national team call-up was what really informed the 26-year-old’s decision to play for Nigeria

With the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, players seen as not good enough to play for the country’s senior national team, at least in continental and international competitions, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, largely depends on players of Nigerian descent, most of whom have played for the country of their birth at various age-grade levels, but considered not good enough to play at the senior level. These players now see the Super Eagles as a last option to continue their international football. They come in with various reasons for ‘dumping’ their country of birth for Nigeria.

The latest addition to the Super Eagles fold is another former German junior international of Nigerian heritage, Felix Agu. After starring for his country of birth at the U21 level but did not have the requisite to progress to play for the four-time World Cup winner, and with age (26 years) catching up on him, now sees his fatherland as a last option to carry on with his international career. He is coming with the mantra ‘connect with his roots’ as his reason for wanting to play for the three-time African champion.

“It’s nice to represent the biggest African country. To connect more to my roots and to be able to play with such good players. It’s an honour to just represent such a big, big country. I see the quality of players we have here in this team, and what we can achieve, so it was my plan to be able to contribute and represent my country,” the former VfL Osnabrück defender said.

There is no proper football development programe in place by the country’s football federation, and the NPFL, which ordinarily should serve as a conveyor belt from which a good number of players could be selected from for the senior national team -like what the Premier League does for England’s Three Lions, LaLiga for Spain’s La Roja, Bundesliga for Germany’s Die Mannschaft, to mention a few. Unfortunately, because NPFL is not developed and equipped enough to serve as recruitment grounds for the Super Eagles, the NFF not only gladly welcomed Agu to the senior national football team’s fold but celebrated him for ‘dumping’ his land of birth for fatherland.

As if attesting to the fact that NPFL players are not good enough for the Super Eagles, erstwhile NFF President, Amaju Pinnick never hid his resolve to ensure that youngsters of Nigerian descents who are doing well in England and other leagues in Europe wore the Nigerian colours at the appropriate time.

In an interview with THISDAY during his reign as NFF President, he said, “What we are trying to do is what we call VIP scouting – talking to these young players that are playing abroad to play for their fatherland. No Nigerian, even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited being Nigerians. I can assure you that we shall get them to play for us at appropriate time,” Pinnick had said.

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, recently named a blend of homegrown and foreign-based players to participate in the Unity Cup mini tournament.

Agu was officially invited to the Super Eagles squad for the Unity Cup, which marks his first senior call-up just days after pledging his international allegiance to Nigeria, having initially been invited only to train with the team.

Born in Germany to Nigerian parents, the 26-year-old previously represented Germany at U21 level, but he has now committed to wearing the green and white of Nigeria.

In the just-concluded 2024/25 Bundesliga season, Agu won more penalties than any other player. With three penalties won, Agu topped a list that includes some of the most dangerous attacking players in Germany, such as Nathan Tella, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and Serhou Guirassy—all of whom managed only two each.

On the pitch, the Werder Bremen star often forces opponents into poor challenges with his clever movement.

What makes Agu even more valuable is his hunger to represent Nigeria. After months of speculation, he made it clear that his heart lies with the Super Eagles.

In interviews earlier this year, Agu described a call-up to Nigeria as a dream come true, and it seems to be better timing with Chelle offering him that chance.

“To play on the national level was always a dream of mine, and I had to make half of the decision already because I played for the German under 21 team,” Agu earlier said to Oma TV.

“I did this to kind of keep this open, but I’ve talked a lot to Justin Njimah about playing for the national team and we think it would be like a dream come true to play for Nigeria.

“Also, it would put a smile on our fathers’ faces if we represent Nigeria,”

With the 2025 AFCON tournament and qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening soon, this mini-tournament is a perfect place for him to prove that his Bundesliga form can translate to the international level.

Meanwhile, Werder Bremen, manager, Ole Werner has indeed hailed Agu’s development, following the defender’s international recognition, claiming that playing international football will aid the full-back’s development.

“All experiences that players can have in their careers that go beyond club football are fantastic,” said Werner, as per Deichstube.

“Felix has developed well and had a brilliant season. After a short injury break, he came back strongly and was a key part of our final spurt because he was in top form.”

The 26-year-old expressed excitement about finally connecting with his roots.

“I had the first contact with the federation. I right away wanted to speak to the coach (Eric Chelle) and I had good talks with the coaching staff,” Agu told the Super Eagles media team in London. “Once we had the call, it was a pretty easy decision for me to come here because it’s a good way also to connect with my Nigerian side, with my roots. So, it was a pretty easy decision.”

Agu, who recently joined the Super Eagles camp, praised the reception he received from the players and staff.

“Yeah, it’s been one and a half days with all the guys. It’s been very good. Everyone accepted me pretty well.

“We spent one training session already and yeah, it’s nice being here. I’m happy to be called up and I’m enjoying my time.”

The defender, who has followed Nigerian football closely in recent years, noted the magnitude of representing Africa’s most populous country.

“I’ve been following especially the qualification games recently and the last African Cup of Nations. These were the most recent games.

“It’s the biggest African nation. Everywhere you go, you meet Nigerians. To represent a country like this is the biggest honour, so I’m very, very happy.”

Away from football, Agu also celebrated Nigerian cuisine and his efforts to keep it part of his daily life in Germany.

“I like to eat fufu with the egusi soup. I love jollof rice with plantain. So, I try to get it as much as possible. We have like one or two shops where you can get it,” he said. “I’m not a good cook myself, but once my dad prepares some sauces or soups, then I freeze them. I take them back to my place and then once in a while I always try to prepare myself.”

Reflecting on his journey with Werder Bremen, Agu said: “I went to Bremen five years ago. It was a time of ups and downs. We got relegated once but got promoted right away.

“Last season, we almost made it to Europe. All in all, it’s been a pretty good season for me and the club.”

No matter the value Agu and other players of Nigerian descent could add to the national team, developing local football and a standard, well equipped and well organized NPFL that would serve as a conveyor belt to the Super Eagles would be more profitable in the long run rather than depending on ‘foreign’ Nigerian players, who only see playing for their fatherland as a last resort after not making it to the senior national teams of the country of their birth.