Benin Republic midfielder Junior Olaitan has revealed that a lack of opportunities in Nigeria’s youth setup made him switch allegiance from the Super Eagles to the Squirrels, Footynaija.com reports.
The 23-year-old, who plays for Ligue 2 side Grenoble, shared his thoughts during the William Troost-Ekong Charity Match held in Lagos on Sunday 22nd June, 2025.
Born to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother, Olaitan admitted he feels at home in both countries but didn’t hold back when asked about his decision to play for Benin.
“Yeah, that is kind of true,” the midfielder said when asked if his choice was influenced by lack of chances in Nigeria.
“When I wanted to play under-17, I was not given a chance. I don’t want to go into the details of what they told me. But thank God, I made my team in Benin, and I’m happy to play for the Benin Republic.”
Olaitan has become a regular under Gernot Rohr, the former Super Eagles coach now in charge of the Benin national team. He registered an assist in the 1–1 draw against Nigeria earlier in the World Cup qualifiers, a result that has added spice to the upcoming reverse fixture.
As revealed in an interview posted by Punch Newspaper, Olaitan speaking confidently about the rematch set for Uyo later in the year said: “We will see. We’re gonna sink them when we play against the Super Eagles.”
The Grenoble midfielder also praised coach Rohr, describing him as more than just a tactician. “Rohr is a good coach. He’s like a father to me. He helped me have more confidence in the team, more than before.”