Gone are those days in our football, where over 50% of players representing the national team were guys from the local league, and critically we could actually point out the 1994 national team squad as a big case study, where some of our football legends today did come through that part with players like Rasheed Yekini, Daniel Amokachi, Kanu Nwankwo and the likes.
However, as good and lucrative those periods were, a lot has changed from then till now as inflow of local players going straight into the national team has drastically dropped, with the country’s attention now shifted into the foreign lands where Nigerian born players are.
Therefore, with the rapid shift of countries and FIFA rules giving rooms to footballers to also switch their allegiance to another country as long as such player hasn’t represented a particular country in an official match and also have what it takes to switch his international allegiance.
Due to this trend, some nations mostly England have been able to tempt away the likes of John Fashanu, Dele Alli, and more recently Tammy Abraham, however talented stars such as Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and William Troost-Ekong have shown that Nigeria is probably even more blessed than it was some decade ago.
Today, Cheapgoals will look at two young stars that could also represent Nigeria, or being snatched up by the Three Lions of England.
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
There is a talent on the block turning heads and attracting admiring glances, Saka emerged on the scene back in 2018 under the tutelage of former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, when he was first handed the opportunity to play in a Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava.
Since his debut under Emery, many thought the brilliancy he showed was just a case of a fairytale which won’t last long, however, Saka has been able to prove doubters wrong.
Despite having the opportunity to play under three managers in the last six months of the season, Saka has proved beyond doubt that he can deliver, and none of the coaches has considered him unfit or unworthy to don the Arsenal jersey.
However, with Saka’s form and club career following an upward trajectory, it’s only a matter of time before a decision has to be made, on which country the young Arsenal man would represent, as allegiance tussle between Nigeria and England looks imminent for the Nigerian born player.
The war looks imminent, because Nigeria wouldn’t want to lose out on securing his service just like they did with Fashanu, Alli, and most recently with Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham, even when it’s crystal clear that opportunity to feature for the Three Lions can be more tempting than that of Super Eagles.
However, the truth is, Saka should decide playing for Nigeria which would serve as smarter move for him in getting to play perhaps at the next AFCON and also be part of the team to World Cup come 2022, as the gaffer of team Gernot Rohr has shown many times that he is not scared to give a deserving player to show what he could offer the team just like he did a whole lot of Super Eagles players.
Another reason why Saka’s allegiance is of more importance to Nigeria is Gernot Rohr team still lack that natural left-wing forward who can give opponents lots of headaches and something to ponder about, if he did switch his allegiance to Nigeria, the left-wing attack could be cemented for him in the national team, and more importantly it would serve as a big privilege to wear the Green and White jersey just like the likes of Iwobi and Troost Ekong did and never regretted dumping the countries that wanted their services.
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Eberechi Eze – Queen Park Rangers
The exciting midfielder is enjoying a breakthrough season with QPR, with him netting over ten goals in the Championship this season, the 21year old had also shown how good he was with the excellent display in QPR matches this season with strings of excellent passes and the eye for goals from his midfield position.
The Nigerian born midfielder is also very much under the radar of Nigeria football officials despite him receiving criticism for his public pursuit, however, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Pinnick has always voiced out his affection for Eze as he dreams of him playing for Nigeria.
Apparently, the Nigerian football enthusiast had not forgotten how the NFF, was in pursuit of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori only for them to choose the Three Lions ahead of Nigeria, however that hasn’t stopped the NFF from convincing Eze to don the Green and White jersey as the international allegiance tussle between Nigeria and England looks imminent.
In November 2019, the NFF President paid Eze a visit in London in other to convince the young lad to switch his allegiance to the birth country of his parents rather than England, although the Super Eagles have a lot of talents most especially of recent in the midfield with the new introduction of Joe Aribo, but then it won’t be out of place if Nigeria have Eze as one of the team solid talents, as Nigeria prepare for World Cup qualifiers.
According to report in 2017, the young midfielder has once trained with Nigeria in London during their training, which shows the QPR may one day end up with the Super Eagles, however, talks are ongoing, but the player has requested that he wants to focus on his club career which has been going on smoothly for him so far.
Even at that, the NFF should be swift in trying to convince him more, so Eze’s talent won’t be a loss to England just like we did with Fashanu et al.
