Dual Heritage Dual Delight! 6 British Nigerian Sports Professionals Making Noise in their Fields
Photo credit Joe Darams via Unsplash
Whether they’re born and raised in the UK and opt to represent England or born elsewhere yet choose Nigeria; one thing is for certain – a UK upbringing involving Nigerian parents will often leave many sports professionals with memories of dual identities, dual heritage and some very interesting reasons as to why they chose to represent the particular country of their choice. Here are 6 British Nigerian sport professionals some you may have heard of and some whose gifts are making room for them. We start with a certain powerful professional boxer:
1. LAWRENCE OKOLIE (BOXING)
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Dare to Change Your Life by Lawrence Okolie (Credit: Penguin Books)
“I thought eventually I’d become team manager – maybe one day manage my own burger joint. That was the aspiration at the time,” says Lawrence Okolie.
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Indeed, from McDonalds in East London to world champion and British Olympian. This East London boxer went from overweight teen to Olympian and then to world cruiserweight champion in just over ten years! Lawrence Okolie was born in Hackney, London to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent. He grew up in Stoke Newington and attended Stoke Newington School. While watching Anthony Joshua fighting in the 2012 Summer Olympics super heavyweight final, Okolie decided to take boxing seriously and set a goal to make the 2016 Olympics. And he didn’t look back ever since. Lawrence Okolie eventually went on to become a professional boxer who held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title from 2021 to May 2023.
2. ANTHONY WATSON (LEICESTER TIGERS & ENGLAND)
“I always try to eat the right thing but I can’t help myself when I go home and my mum’s made some Nigerian food. I always tuck into that.” Anthony Watson, (2015, TNT sports )
Anthony Watson; Source: Facebook
These were the words of Anthony Chisom Watson; current England Fullback/Wingback and professional rugby union player. Watson’s Dad, Duncan played for Saracens before a knee injury brought a premature end to his career and is now involved in the petrochemical industry which involved numerous travels to Africa and Asia – including Pakistan and Nigeria where he met Viv, Anthony’s mother. 30 years later, with three boys and residing in the often well-esteemed quiet and plush residential pastures of Surrey and recently becoming a father to a young son, Kai; Anthony Watson has won 56 caps thus far for England and has many times gone on to boast about his appreciation for his hard-working dad who moral-centric mum alongside how “growing up around the church has been pretty fundamental” (Telegraph, March 2024).
3. IMMANUEL FEYI-WABOSO (EXETER & ENGLAND)
In the same March 2024, another strident debate gathered momentum over another British-Nigerian professional rugby star in the making. A certain 21-year-old Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who thrived on his debut for England during a statement win against Ireland at Twickenham on March 11th, 2024. The young medical student who comes from a bloodline of renowned medics (both in Nigeria and Britain) has put his studies on hold whilst he becomes accustomed with his speedy progression on the international scene. Less than 12 months ago, he was turning out for Taunton in National League One aiding them to victory over Darlington Mowden Park in a crucial victory that helped stave off relegation to the English fourth tier. But now, the England wing professional, born and raised in Wales, who was on the bench against the country of his birth earlier this year caused a bit of banter and uproar amongst the Wales camp when he was on the bench against them. Feyi-Waboso was born in Cardiff, Wales in 2002 to Nigerian parents. His older siblings are Zoe and Joshua, who is a junior doctor in Cornwall, having studied at Exeter University. Their mother, Ngozi, had a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father who was an orthopedic surgeon in Nigeria. Ngozi died when the children were young, and Manny’s stepmother, Sally, helped bring him up.
“My dad’s an ophthalmologist, and his dad was a gynaecologist in Nigeria. My grandmother is English and lives in Gloucester. My dad is half-English and my mum’s Nigerian. I was born in Wales, but my parents moved around a lot. When I came to Exeter, my dad was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve lived here, too.” (Feyi-Waboso Feb 2024, Standard)
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Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has enjoyed a swift rise to prominence
Feyi-Waboso is a speedster on the field on is just as quick off it. He was part of the Cardiff academy and when an unsuccessful medical school application to Cardiff University fell through despite achieving the three A* grades; he was accepted for his chosen subject at Aston University in Birmingham, a move which saw him join up with the senior Wasps academy. But then the Wasps went into administration and folded, which saw premiership giants Exeter sign him on a long-term contract whilst transferring onto the Exeter Medical school simultaneously. Whilst on international duty, if he is not engaged in revision or cramming in medical notes on his own during spare moments in the England camp, he is taking pointers from RFU doctor Katy Hornby. The Chiefs and Exeter University have worked together to build a daily schedule that allows Feyi-Waboso to both study and train. Watch this space and this name in the future!
4. ASHLEIGH PLUMPTRE (NIGERIA & AL-ITTIHAD FC )
“The same way how I wanted to join Leicester because it is my hometown club; with Nigeria – I wanted to recover some of my heritage which I had not known before. My dad is half Nigerian/half English. My grand dad was born in Lagos but I’d been brought up very British so it wasn’t until I met up with the Nigeria team that I experienced the culture, live music and food up and close and the ladies are fantastic, passionate and very caring.” (Optus Sport 2013, Ashleigh Plumptre)
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Ashleigh celebrating International Duty with Falcons | Source: Instagram
Leicester-born swapped from Lioness to Super Falcon Ashleigh Plumptre opted to switch allegiance to Nigeria after being inspired to research her family roots when her little sister faced racism. After training with Birmingham City’s under-17 team in 2013, she also had the invaluable opportunity to train with the senior WSL 1 team, resulting in joining the WSL side Notts County before returning to Leicester in 2019. She was released from Leicester after her contract expired in 2023 and moved to Al-Ittihad Ladies in 2024. Despite representing England at various youth levels, including under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-23 teams amassing 30 appearances and 10 goals; in 2021 she opted to play for Nigeria being cleared officially by FIFA in December 2021.
Identifying as mixed race whilst her sister Bayleigh, 13, identifies as black, they share the same black father, Tim, and different white mothers. Her decision to represent Nigeria provided an opportunity for Plumptre to teach both herself and Bayleigh about their ancestry – of which she has not looked back on. It is also worth noting that she is an ambassador for Menphys, a local charity supporting young people with disabilities, which has supported her brother, who is autistic. (Plumptre has two younger brothers and a sister, all half-siblings.)
5. CALVIN BASSEY – (NIGERIA & FULHAM FC)
“It’s every kid’s dream to be able to get their family a home, so I moved them out of the area. I said I was going to but don’t think she [mum] thought I would — at least not five months after signing. She was praying and jumping up and down. It was disbelief, but I was happy to put a smile on her face as she sacrificed a lot for us boys.” Calvin Bassey (Dec 2023, The Athletic)
Calvin Bassey during his time at Ajax in Netherlands | Source: Facebook
Italy born and London raised Calvin Bassey is another talent making a name for himself in the Premier League with Fulham. The versatile defender who was also one of the standout defenders at the African Cup of Nations 2024 (AFCON) was famously credited by his team mate Scott Arfield for his box-to-box athleticism and reading of the game which excelled Rangers as underdogs in knockout wins over Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig en route to the Europa League final defeat on penalties by Eintracht Frankfurt in May 2022. The performances of the 22-year-old have endeared him to the Nigerian football faithful, with some labelling him as the new ‘Maldini’ due to his versatility, which is believed to be reminiscent of the Italy and AC Milan legend. Bassey was born in Aosta, a city in Italy in December 1999 and moved to England, rising through the youth ranks at Leicester City before joining Rangers in 2020 and playing in 50 matches in all competitions which included 15 appearances in the UEFA Europa League under Gio Van Bronkhorst. Ajax agreed on a fee believed to be around £23 million to Rangers FC in the summer of 2022 before Fulham paid the equivalent fee a year later.
Bassey has often spoken about his mother’s sacrifices and faith in playing a pivotal role in their Newham upbringing. Another obstacle within his formative years was not only football rejection, having been rejected by a host of premier league trials - but also the gang culture prevalent within East London at the time. In Newham, it was estimated in 2021 that 20 gangs were in operation with 5,000 affiliated members. A man’s gift however does maketh room for him (Prov 18.16) and it is exceptional how talent has allowed Bassey to grow into a household defensive powerhouse with admirers beyond the M25 and in his native homeland appreciating this boy’s talents.
6. CINDY SEMBER (PROFESSIONAL TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE; TEAM GB)
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Cindy Sember | Source: Creative Commons (Wikimedia)
Cindy Sember (known previously as Cindy Ofili) is an American-born British track and field athlete, specialising in sprint hurdles. She finished fourth in the 100 metres hurdles final at the 2016 Olympic Games as a 22 year old. The professional track and field champ is training for her third Olympic games in 2024. Sember cruelly missed out on a podium place at Rio 2016, finishing fourth in the final and just 0.02 seconds behind the USA’s bronze medallist Kristi Castlin. The daughter of Nigerian and British immigrants, Cindy was a standout sprint hurdler throughout high school, following in the footsteps of her older sister Tiffany. She earned her second British indoor title in the 60m hurdles, winning the British Championships in a time of 8.10 on Feb 18th 2024. With the victory, Sember secures her spot on Team GB for the European Indoor Championships, to be held in March 2024 in Istanbul.
Sember could have chosen to internationally represent either the United States, Great Britain or Nigeria (her father’s country of origin); in June 2015 it was announced that she had selected Britain, following her older sister Tiffany Porter. The move caused some controversy in Britain, with detractors labeling Sember a “plastic Brit” who sought an ‘easier choice’ opportunity to represent the UK ahead of the more competitive U.S. Sember responded that she felt British regardless. After a 2020 season that was largely limited by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cindy was quick to get back to her top form, winning the bronze medal in the 60m hurdles at the 2021 European Indoor Championships. Later that spring, Cindy took major victories in Gateshead and at the Drake Relays, the latter of which in a new lifetime best of 12.57, a mark she would lower to 12.53 weeks later at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Written by Tholani Alli
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