The 2024 Paris 2024, summer Olympics has made revelation of a 22 years old youngster who is the captain of the Japan National Olympics team and surprisingly, possesses a Nigerian root through his Father.

WHO IS JOEL CHIMA FUJITA?

Joel Chima Fujita is a footballing talent born to a Nigerian father of the Famous Igbo tribe in the eastern part of the country and to a Japanese mother. His middle Name "Chima" is an evidence of his Nigerian root. The talented Defensive midfielder was born and brought up in Tokyo, Japan.

Joel rose up through the ranks of the Japanese national team, playing for the U-17 and U-23 sides. He won the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian cup with Japan. He also boasts of winning the East Asian football championship in 2022.

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Joel Fujita plays for Sint Truidense V.V in the Belgian pro league. The 22 years old joined the Belgian outfit in 2023 from Yokohama Marinos where he won the league title in 2021.

In 2023 Joel Chima opened up on his Nigerian root, stating that he is blessed to have a Nigerian father.

He said: "I am Japanese, but with a Nigerian father. Maybe, that’s why I am blessed with physical and technical abilities"

Currently at the 2024 summer Olympics, Joel is the captain of the Japanese football team. In their first game of the tournament, he led them to a comfortable 5-0 win over Paraguay.

Joel is not the only Japanese player in the squad with a Nigerian root. The team's goalkeeper, Leo Brian Kokubo also possesses a Nigerian root. 

DON'T MISS: Meet Leo Kokubo, the 23 years old Japan Goalkeeper born to a Nigerian Father. (See his Mother and Sisters)