'I came to Golden Eaglets camp in 2015' - Gabriel Osho confirms preference for Nigeria over England

Super Eagles defender Gabriel Osho has stated that he prioritized representing Nigeria over his country of birth, England.

Osho made his international debut in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Benin at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday night, and in doing so, the English-born player became cap-tied to Nigeria. 

In the match, Osho was part of a back three alongside teammates Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong.

However, he was replaced at halftime by Raphael Onyedika as Nigeria sought to reverse a 1-0 deficit.

Speaking ahead of Nigeria's upcoming clash against Rwanda in Uyo, Osho revealed that his decision to play for Nigeria was straightforward.

He recalled his early aspirations, stating that he had made himself available for the Golden Eaglets during his formative years.

"It wasn't hard. I even came to Nigeria before the U17 won the World Cup in 2015. I came to the camp and I have always wanted to play for Nigeria," he shared with Victor Modo.

Osho added that his connection to Nigeria runs deep, having visited the country multiple times during his childhood.

"I have come to Nigeria four times before while growing up with my family. Your family blood is the real blood. It was never a hard decision for me to come back here," he emphasized.

The 26-year-old defender, known for his versatility on the field, has played various positions throughout his professional career.

Against Benin, he was positioned in central defense, a role he expressed a preference for.

"Anywhere really. I don't like to play right-back or left-back because I leave that to Ola and Bright who can run all day."

"I like to play anywhere in the center half. In the middle, the left or right in a two or three as long as I can play, I am happy," Osho explained.

As the Super Eagles prepare for their upcoming match against Rwanda on Monday, November 18, Osho will hope to seize the opportunity to improve upon his debut performance.

Adeyemi Adewale

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