22‑year‑old defender Ime Okon, who represents the South Africa national team, has explained why he chose to play for South Africa instead of Nigeria, despite being eligible for both nations.
Speaking about his international allegiance, Okon said South Africa means everything to him and that he has never known another home. This was his statement:
South Africa is everything to me. I don’t know anything besides South Africa. South Africa is my home.
Softfootball understands that Ime Okon was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a South African mother and a Nigerian father. He holds dual citizenship, but his football identity and upbringing have always been rooted in South Africa.
Okon, who plays as a defender, is among the South African players representing Bafana Bafana at the 2026 World Cup, continuing his rise as one of the nation’s promising talents.
