SuperSport United’s rising star, Ime Okon, has explained his decision to represent South Africa’s Bafana Bafana instead of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The 20‑year‑old central defender, born in Johannesburg to a South African mother and Nigerian father, shared heartfelt reasons for cementing his international allegiance.
According to Daily Post, Okon made his debut for South Africa during the 2025 COSAFA Cup and wants to continue playing for them.
“It was never a difficult decision to choose which nation to represent,” Okon said, as per SABC Sports. “This is what I’ve always wanted. I’m really happy. “It’s been a great experience with the national team, all of the players and coaches have been very helpful and welcoming. Hopefully, I can get many more call-ups in the future.”
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According to Soccernet, Okon’s international career began to take shape when head coach Hugo Broos called him up for the preliminary squad earlier this year. He was handed a starting role in the COSAFA Cup opener against Mozambique on June 4 — a narrow 1-0 defeat — but impressed with his composure and defensive intelligence. He started all three group matches, rounding off his debut campaign with a standout performance against Mauritius in a goalless draw.
Okon’s rapid rise from Randburg FC to SuperSport United and now the international stage has been noteworthy. With 20 top-flight appearances under his belt this past season, he even earned a spot in the league’s Team of the Week.
While some Nigerian fans may have held faint hopes of convincing him to join the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s centre-back options — including William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Igoh Ogbu, and teenage star Benjamin Fredrick — mean Okon’s decision won’t shake up Eric Chelle’s plans.
However, South Africa’s new defensive gem may soon face his father’s homeland, with a potentially high-stakes World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa looming on 5 September.
