In April 2019, midway through his recovery from a hamstring injury that his then-Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl labelled a “disaster” for the youngster, Michael Obafemi travelled over to his hometown.
During a promotional visit to Dublin, the then-18-year-old explained why he was eligible to wear the green jersey.
It was a close call!
Had his mum Bola not taken a trip to the Irish capital to visit family members late in her pregnancy, during the summer of 2000, there would have been no world-class assist for Troy Parrott.
There would have been no world-class strike, which quickly kicked off a debate as to whether a better goal had ever been scored by the Boys in Green.
“I know that I was born in Dublin, my mum was visiting her sisters,” said Obafemi in 2019.
“I think I moved back to London a couple of weeks later, where I grew up. I didn't stay too long [in Dublin] but when I come here I still feel like I am home.”
The Fair City feels even more like home for the 21-year-old, who was raised in Chingford, these days.
His mum, her Dublin-based sisters and some of Obafemi’s cousins were at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday to witness his unforgettable first senior international start.
Bola rarely misses a chance to see her son in action. The devoted mum, according to Obafemi, turns up "even when I’m on the bench... I’m thankful for that.”
She was in Aarhus for his debut under Martin O’Neill. His late introduction was the one moment of consequence in an otherwise drab Nations League draw with Denmark.
Obafemi had played at Under-17s, 19s and 21s for Ireland before his senior bow in November 2018.
It was at that time that the Declan Rice saga was in full swing. The three-time capped Hammers ace had opted out of that campaign to avoid being tied to Ireland.
A few months later, Rice confirmed his switch.
What did Obafemi, who also qualified for England and Nigeria, make of it all?
“I didn't really pay attention to all of that as I didn't think it was a big issue,” he said during his 2019 visit to Dublin.
“The media made a bigger issue than it was. I always knew that I would play for Ireland.
“I didn't really pay attention to Declan's situation. I knew myself that I would play for Ireland. It was the only one out of the three [that I wanted to represent].
“I played all the way, well, not all the way but from U17s upwards. I didn't (see) the need to change. This is where I was born and where I should stay.”
He was reminded of reports that Nigerian football officials were trying to convince him to pick them, by communicating their interest to family members.
“I saw that and was laughing, it's just funny. I don't want to speak bad on it, but it's crap,” he said, bluntly.
“My Mum is supportive of my decision, my brother [Affy], everyone is supportive. They asked what I wanted to do, I said what I wanted to do and they stuck by me.
“I didn't [get an approach from England] and even if they did, I don't think I'd have gone anyway.”
And so Obafemi, who spent the first few weeks of his life in Dublin, decided this was the country he wanted to represent.
Nearly four years after his first senior cap, and after his magical performance against Scotland, we can give thanks to Bola and her timely holiday plans.
Our gratitude should also extend to one of the greatest - and lesser-heralded - contributors to Irish international football.
“I think it was [London-based scout] Mark O'Toole, he spoke to my agent and got things running,” explained Obafemi.
So, that’s the story of Obafemi’s rise as an Ireland international.
As for club level, around the time that O’Toole made contact, Obafemi was breaking into the Southampton first-team.
Having played Sunday League before bouncing around a few London clubs, including Watford, in his youth, he settled at St Mary’s, where he made his first team debut in January 2018.
Not before taking a year out between Watford and Leyton Orient between the ages of 14 and 15, while many of his peers were honing their skills in top academies.
He was Southampton’s second youngest Premier League player behind Luke Shaw when he came on as a substitute against Tottenham.
Obafemi did write his name into the club’s history books when he became their youngest ever Premier League goalscorer, with a strike that December against Huddersfield.
He scored five first-team goals in just under 40 appearances, including an injury-time equaliser against Manchester United at Old Trafford
It wasn’t enough to convince his Saints paymasters that he should stay - and they sold him to Swansea for around €2m last summer.
It’s a decision they may well be regretting now that he has found his feet at the Welsh club, scoring 11 goals in his last 19 games, and at international level, where his strike against Scotland quickly went viral across social media.
Off the pitch, Obafemi recalls how he was the “class clown” in school, because he was always having a laugh.
It shows in his bouncy style of play, his carefree attitude on the pitch and his sense of humour off it.
Asked by Sky Sports after the Scotland game for the reason why Ireland looked so much more energetic than in previous games, he replied: “Me!”
“Only joking,” he quickly followed up, grinning broadly.
Thanks to his goal and assist, we have another hero in this young Ireland side.
And thanks to his personality, we have another great character in Stephen Kenny’s dressing room.
But ultimately, it’s all thanks to Bola and her holiday plans nearly 22 years ago.
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