Ex-U17 star who played alongside Mikel has no regret dumping Nigeria for Haiti

A former top Nigerian player who dumped his nation to play for little-known Haiti, says he does not regret the decision despite not reaching the peak of his career.

Emmanuel Sarki was a contemporary of John Obi Mikel in the Golden Eaglets team that featured in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Finland.

While Mikel is on the verge of leading Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup having featured in the 2014 edition of the Mundial held in Brazil, Sarki, who at his peak was signed by Chelsea in 2006, has resigned to fate playing for little known, Haiti.

But the 28-year-old remains adamant, saying he has no regrets dumping Nigeria for Haiti.

He revealed the real reason he abandoned Nigeria.

In an interview published in the Scottish Sun, Sarki said he decided to snub Nigeria and play international football for Haiti instead because he got sick of being asked to pay up to £1,000 to play for the Super Eagles.

“I was told to pay before I am called up, that was when I was playing in Israel. I won’t mention the name of the coach,” he said.

“It was Efe Ambrose who gave me the contact of the coach after telling him of my form. I put a call across to him, but he told me to speak with his assistant, who openly asked me for money.

“A lot of friends asked me to pay the money, but the sum they were quoting was way more than what I can afford. I couldn’t pay it and despite my fine form, I wasn’t contacted again.”

Sarki played for the Flying Eagles, the Nigeria U-20 and the U-23 team but he never fulfilled his dream with the Super Eagles.

He said it is a different ball game with the Haiti national team.