Francis Akpan, a Johannesburg resident and associate of the Okon family, has clarified that South African footballer Ime Daniel Okon has no intention of playing for the Nigerian national team. Akpan noted that Okon considers South Africa his only true home.
Born in 2004, Okon is the son of a Nigerian father from Akwa Ibom State. However, the defender has never traveled to Nigeria nor interacted with the country’s sports infrastructure. According to Akpan, the player feels no connection to his ancestral homeland and was never approached by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Okon, who previously played for SuperSport United, confirmed that his late father, a wrestler, did not introduce him to Nigeria during his formative years. Having developed his professional career exclusively in South Africa, Okon has pledged his international allegiance to Bafana Bafana, viewing that decision as final.
