Wycombe Wanderers player, Adebayo Akinfenwa has revealed why he didn’t receive a call up to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The British of Nigerian descent who spoke with ESPN joked that the team is yet to have a jersey that will fit his huge size.
He also spoke about his passion for the team which began right from his early days.
“I had [interest] when I was young,” he told ESPN.
“I was 21 when I hooked up with [former England striker of Nigerian origin] John Fashanu; there was talk then, but Nigeria are always blessed with great strikers so it was harder for me.
“I know there was a campaign one time to try and get me out there, but they weren’t really feeling me and that… maybe they haven’t got a kit that can fit me.”
Akinfenwa who was born in London said that the Super Eagles and their debut at the World Cup in 1994 made him embrace his ancestry.
“I remember the 1994 World Cup, the Super Eagles with [Daniel] Amokachi, Jay-Jay Okocha and [Rashidi] Yekini like it was yesterday,” he told ESPN. “It was such an immense feeling, coming up against Argentina, and I can remember that World Cup being amazing for Nigeria.
“It leaves an impression, and what I loved the most was the fact that you saw our culture, when they scored; and those celebrations, you saw the colours.
“So as a Nigerian [I saw to] never be afraid to embrace your culture, to let people know what your culture is, and I don’t shy away from who I am. Everything I do, I let [people] see who I am and I don’t shy away from being me; that’s what I take away from 1994 and 1998.
“That was what I got from it, as a youngster, going into manhood; that was what I was able to take from watching the Super Eagles.”