When Ireland named their squad to take on Portugal on October 11, 2025, and Armenia on October 14, 2025, a thread of Nigerian heritage ran quietly through the list. Among the players called up are Chiedozie Ogbene, Festy Ebosele, and Adam Idah. Three men whose journeys bridge Lagos and Cork, and whose stories carry more than just hope for caps.
Chiedozie Ogbene was born in Lagos in 1997. As a child, his family moved to Cork, Ireland, seeking new opportunities. In 2021, when he made his debut for the senior Irish team, he became the first Africa-born player to don the green jersey. Along the way, he has often spoken of his dual identity; remembering Lagos in family stories, but also seeing Ireland as home.
Adam Idah, born in Cork to a Nigerian father and Irish mother, carries that same dual legacy. He rose through local clubs, showing the kind of promise that drew national youth attention. His choice to represent Ireland at senior level reflects both his upbringing and his deep connection to both sides of his heritage.
Festy Ebosele, born in Ireland with Nigerian descent, is the third piece of this lineage. He represented Ireland in youth levels before earning a senior call. His presence in the squad underscores how talent born of Nigerian roots is now fully integrated into Irish football’s fabric.
These three players remind us that identity in sport is layered. For Ogbene, Idah, and Ebosele, wearing Ireland’s colours doesn’t erase Lagos, it layers ambition, opportunity, culture, and memory. As Ireland prepares for those October matches, those with Nigerian roots will carry not just the hopes of fans, but echoes of two homes with them.
Follow more inspiring stories at www.hotsportsscoops.com – First with the fresh scoops.