The Japanese Olympic team is home to two Nigerian footballers at this year’s summer Olympics- Leo Kokubo and Joel Chima Fujita.
Goalkeeper Leo Kokubo and midfielder Joel Chima Fujita are Black athletes representing Japan in the men’s football at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Both players were born in Japan to Nigerian fathers and Japanese mothers .The two are also signed to Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truiden at club level.
They are making history as the only Black athletes on the team .
Joel Chima is a 22-year-old defensive midfielder, who was born to a Nigerian Igbo father and a Japanese mother but pledged his international allegiance to the Asian country. He captains the U23 side.
He played most of his career in the Japanese J1 league until the summer of 2023 when he moved to the Belgian Pro League and joined Sint-Triuden.
Leo Brian Kokubo, on the other hand, is a 23-year-old goalkeeper born to a Nigerian father and a Japanese mother who plays for Japan, similar to his club teammate Chima.
Peoplesmind
