Germany-based defender Ime Okon has put to bed doubts about his international allegiance as he is currently eligible to choose between two countries.
The 21-year-old was born in Johannesburg to a South African mother and a Nigerian father, making him eligible to represent either Bafana Bafana or Nigeria.
Capped five times by South Africa, Okon can, however, still switch to play for the Super Eagles. His Bafana caps come from the 2025 COSAFA Cup, whose status in international football does not tie him down to South Africa.
But Hugo Broos has included Okon in his 54-member preliminary squad for the 2025 AFCON finals. Should the Hannover 96 centre-back make the final selection to Morocco and feature at the tournament, that will shut the door on the possibility of Nigeria calling him up.
OKON PICKS BETWEEN BAFANA AND NIGERIA
His move to Germany from SuperSport United ahead of the 2025/26 season heightened the possibility of a move to the West African country, but he has now decisively made up his mind.
“People always talk, I don’t know what to say, but at the end of the day, I know where my heart is,” Okon said on Radio 2000. “I played for South Africa, the games at the COSAFA Cup, yes, and I scored. South Africa is everything to me. I don’t know anything else besides South Africa.
“This is home, that’s all I can say. Not really [if Nigeria ever attempted to lure him]. Even if they call me up, South Africa is my home, that’s all I have to say.”
After taking part in the COSAFA Cup in June, Okon made Bafana’s provisional squads for the September and October camps but could not make the final squads due to injury.
He was, however, dropped from the selection for November’s international friendly match against Zambia despite being fully fit. He had initially been included in the preliminary squad.
BAFANA COMPETITION FOR OKON
Okon’s decision might have been influenced by the prospect of playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with South Africa after Nigeria failed to qualify. In recent months, Broos has entrusted the Orlando Pirates duo of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Nkosinathi Sibisi as his central defence pairing.
But the likes of Khulumani Ndamane, Thabo Moloisane and Siyabonga Ngezana have also been part of the Belgian’s group.
Adding to Okon’s competition at centre-back ahead of AFCON, the 2017 AFCON-winning coach has also called up Malibongwe Khoza, Amajita’s Tylon Smith and Keegan Allan.
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