I don't regret not playing for Nigeria – Fashanu

Former England international John Fashanu has disclosed that he has no regrets about not representing Nigeria at the international level.

The 60-year-old ex-Wimbledon striker in an exclusive interview with PUNCH revealed that he made attempts to represent Nigeria, but the coach at the time wanted some form of inducement before giving him the opportunity.

“Not at all because I came three times to play for the Super Eagles and I remember vividly it was the late MKO Abiola that brought me to the country. The coach then wanted money from me, but I was a young English boy just coming, Fashanu told PUNCH.

“Now, looking back, I thought if I had spoken to MKO Abiola, he could have given me the money and I would have played for Nigeria,”

The 1998 FA Cup winner also revealed that he noticed that some of the Nigerian players at the time didn't want him in the team which informed his decision to respond to the call-up to represent the Three Lions, becoming the first Nigerian to do so.

“Also, it was unfortunate because I noticed that most of the players didn’t want me in the team. When they asked me to go to the right, I would go there, but the ball would go to the left.”

“And if they asked me to go to the left, the ball would go to the right. But out of the blue, the big opportunity came, and I was selected to play for the English national team. I became the first Nigerian to play for England and it was a great opportunity for me to break boundaries.”

Fashanu made just two appearances for England in games against Chile and Scotland in the 1989 Rous Cup.

WDN