Talent identification and development of players for the national team has been on for decades from the home front, where close to fifty percent of players from the league played for the Super Eagles.
When at some point Nigeria doesn’t necessarily need to go overseas to scout for talents due to the avalanche of talents in the league.
But recently, the story has really changed drastically compared to what the league provided in terms of production of talents, as the flux of talents isn’t forthcoming as it were then.
But in recent time Nigeria has started looking elsewhere for talented youngsters who are of Nigerian descent, which has been fruitful and successful since NFF started seeking that part with the recent invite of Heracles Amelo center forward Cyriel Dessers and FC Cologne right Kingsley Ehizibue.
Although there are different issues tied to talent scouting when it comes to scouting other countries in which these youngsters are.
Monitoring their progress and performance in every club they are, and as time progresses if these youngsters blossom we get to see those countries give them the opportunity to turn out for them on a bigger platform which is the national team.
However, it’s doesn’t usually come easy sometimes as some of these youngsters end up switching allegiance just like we had with John Fashanu, Gabriel Agbonlahor, and several other footballers that turn out to be superstars.
We sought after some talented youngsters of Nigerian descent who could play for Nigeria in the future
Jubril Okedina – Tottenham Hotspur
If there is a new player that could turn out for the Eagles in the future it’s definitely the Tottenham Hotspur defender. According to reports, the Nigeria Football Federation was in an advantageous position in securing his service after he pledged his international future to Nigeria.
The Tottenham defender is born to Nigerian parents, and he’s yet to represent the England national team at the youth level or the senior level which makes it easier for Nigeria to get him. With the fact that he has opened a line of communication with the NFF, especially with the Vice President of the Federation for him to play for Nigeria, if he eventually gets that call up to play the Eagles, Eaglets, or the dream team.
In fact, Okedina should have been considered by the coach of the Eagles U23 team, but Imama Amapakabo had already picked his team which hampered his chances of getting the nod to play for Nigeria.
He’s a utility player that can also slot in perfectly at the right-back despite playing as a center-back, which he has shown with the Tottenham reserve team.
All things being equal, if Okedina keeps up his consistency and performance with Tottenham, perhaps one day he might be one of Super Eagle’s defense marshals.
Josh Onomah – Fulham
The Enfield born is another talent waiting on the wing for a switch of allegiance. Onomah is eligible to represent Nigeria due to his parent’s country of birth, although Onomah has represented England at the youth level when he won the FIFA U20 World Cup 2017 and the UEFA European U17 Football Championship.
The Fulham midfielder came through the academy rank of Tottenham, however, he hasn’t been able to play much with the London-based side. In 2019, he moved to Fulham as part of the deal that brought Ryan Sessegnon to Spur, Onomah justify his move to Craven Cottage when he scored his first goal against Leeds United last year.
If Onomah is consistent and never relent in his development, he might one day play for Nigeria, most importantly he must show the interest that he wants to play for Nigeria.
And critically the scouting team of Nigeria and the Football Federation must find him good enough, perhaps he might end up with any of the team.
Faustino Anjorin – Chelsea
Anjorin only made his debut against Grimsby Town in EFL Cup four months ago and he’s yet to establish himself as a regular player with the Blues senior team. However, Anjorin possesses the ability and charisma of a good leader which he portrayed in the EFL Cup, where he played and captained the youth team in the 2019-20 FA Youth Cup.
The English-born is one of the key players for Chelsea’s youth and he has been very instrumental in their 2019 U18 Premier League South season triumph. Onomah is a pacy and skillful winger who comes with good quality on the ball.
Although the Three Lions have everything to convince him to play for them, however, if the NFF are swift enough in their approach for the winger, perhaps he might end up wearing the Green and White jersey.
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Xavier Amaechi – Arsenal
Amaechi is highly regarded as one of the most talented and gifted youngsters to emerge from the Gunners academy since the likes of Fabregas burst into the limelight. He has shown that he can develop to the standard and quality-wise of what Fabregas brought to the table when the Spaniard was with Arsenal.
The young Gunners is a player with loads of amazing qualities which could serve any team he turns out for, although he is still 17-year or thereabout and already doing wonders with Arsenal U23 when they won the Premier League 2 season.
Although Amaechi is still very young, he might be too young to play for the Super Eagles now, but his talent could still be useful for the Dream team, perhaps the U23 team.
Jordan Aina – Chelsea
It’s only a matter of time before we see the half brother of Ola Aina, the young Chelsea man his growing in leaps and bounds for the Blues youth team both in the Premier League 2 and in the youth FA Cup
Jordan could bring defensive stability to the Eaglets team if he is dim good enough for the team. England also has a say on the young lad but with the presence of his senior brother in the national team he might end up switching his allegiance to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, not every Nigerian descent player born outside would play for Nigeria. However, anyone good enough and talented should be scouted, and convince to represent Nigeria and to continue the trend the Super Eagles team is currently enjoying now.
Michael Obafemi – Southampton
The name Obafemi does remind us of former Super Eagles forward Obagoal, Nay! not Obafemi Martins. The young Saint forward has been a force with Southampton since his promotion from the youth team, he has been a regular for Southampton’s B team in Premier League 2.
He has started nine of their 11 matches, in fact, scoring five goals – taking his total to a modest 20 in 52 for the Saints’ Under-18 and Under-23 teams.
Obafemi has committed his international future to Nigeria for a long time, however, he needs to keep his head up and continue developing as a young player that still has a lot to learn, which he has shown with the youth team and he would surely prove a handful for the Flying Eagles opponent if he does get a call.
Perhaps he might end up bringing back the old memories with the kind of goals Obagoal scored for the Super Eagles, it left to be seen if he could actually replicate that, but then all he needed is just to get his chance and take it.
Nathaniel Ogbeta – Manchester City
Ogbeta is a classy midfield maestro that can translate defensive play to attack, and he has the vision to possess into a fast-flowing attack when going forward to attack the opponent couple with his eyes for goals.
The 18-year old has continued to learn and improve under the tutelage of capable hands at the Etihad, and critically with the English youth team as the captain of his U18 club which is a testament to how good Ogbeta is.
The future holds a lot for Ogbeta, perhaps one day he would be one of the important figures in the Nigeria team if he gets the call and also show interest in playing for the Super Eagles, just like many had done.
Arthur Okonkwo – Arsenal
Another star in the making who was highly rated by Wenger when he was still in charge of the Gunners is an 18-year-old shot-stopper.
Arthur made 14 appearances across all competitions last season, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding 12 goals. He kept a clean sheet on his Premier League 2 debut at just 17 years of age, and he went on to concede just one more in his next three league outings.
Arthur’s also made four appearances for England at the under-18 level.
Okonkwo has made some breathtaking performances for his team, which made fans really surprised that at his tender age he is already posing good performance for the youth team.
For Okonkwo to had trained with the likes of Petr Cech when he was with the gunners, it’s a testament to how fast he is developing with his game.
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Malcolm Ebiowei – West Ham
Ebiowei started his football with the Gunners, but due to some off-field issues, he couldn’t continue his development with the Arsenal youth setup, which led to his trial with West Ham U18 team last year.
The versatile midfielder has shown his outstanding displays while with Gunners U15, but unfortunately for Ebiowei, he couldn’t continue with the team.
Ebiowei is well-grounded for taking set-pieces which is a big plus to him as a young footballer just coming through the ladder, and his rapid development has been likened with that of Alex Iwobi perhaps because they share the same agent.
The 16-year- old has once trained with the Eaglets in Sao Paulo but was a surprise omission from the team squad to the FIFA U17 World Cup. At least with that kind of opportunity he might want to play for Nigeria in the future if he keeps up with his development and consistency.
Layton Ndukwu – Leicester City
The 21-year-old winger is a product of Leicester City academy but joined Southend United on a season-long loan last year, but due to lack of playing time, he was recalled back into the team this year.
Ndukwu was known for his pacy move and tricks, and he is one of the stars of the youth team at Leicester. If he continues with his brilliant performances he might go on to represent the senior team of Leicester.
The winger has played for the English U17 team, with over 17 appearances and six goals to his name, however Ndukwu is also eligible to play for Nigeria due to his root.
Jonathan Afolabi – Dunfermline Athletic
Afolabi started his youth football with Shamrock Rovers and St Joseph’s Boys before he moved down to England with the academy team of Southampton. A team that is well known for producing decent talents, following his lack of games with Southampton, Afolabi moved to Celtic in 2019.
Getting to Celtic, Afolabi found playing time hard to come by with the Scottish champions, so he was loaned to Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish championship until the end of the season and he made his debut just last month with a 3-2 win over Queen Of The South.
Afolabi has played for the Irish U21, named in the UEFA European U19 Championship team which means it’s still visible to have him play for Nigeria. If he is dim good for any of the national team, and talent-wise, he would be a useful acquisition for Nigeria especially with his strong and fast playing ability on the ball.
Chinedu Ekene – Bayern Leverkusen
The German-born Ekene has represented Germany from U15 to U18 level, which means he is still eligible to play for Nigeria, with the fact that his father is a Nigerian, and he hasn’t represented the Die Mannschaft at the senior level yet.
Even Gernot Rohr is working so hard to convince the Leverkusen player to commit his international future to Nigeria, a report has it that Ekene might end up playing for Nigeria any time soon.
Ekene who is one of the players to be promoted to the Leverkusen side next season has earned a lot of praises following his mouthwatering performances in the U19 league, where he has shown he can deliver at the highest level.
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Joshua Zirkzee – Bayern Munich
Following a 6-0 thrashing of Hoffenheim by Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. The Dutch-born player was scouted by Gernot Rohr last weekend, the Nigeria Football Federation target has been receiving praises from ex-players of the team, following his performances since he was promoted to the first team of Bayern.
Zirkzee is an efficient striker and has registered his name on the score sheet for Bayern three times in the German Bundesliga in just 100 minutes, averaging a goal per every 33 minutes for the German champions.
According to Salihamidzic, Zirkzee is a young lad who has developed really well in the past few months, and he has learned to be more precise in front of goals.
Zirkzee is a player the NFF should reach out for before the Dutch national team secures his services.
Felix Agu – Osnabruck
Agu who is a German U21 international player is a versatile fullback who recently signed for Werder Bremen for the 2020-2021 season, Agu will still be with his parent club until next season before he joins Bremen.
The full-back broke into the Lilac-Whites’ first team in 2018 after spending eight years with the youth setup and has been consistent for Daniel Thioune’s men this season, featuring in 15 league games.
The Osnabruck right-back is a talented young lad that can rival any right back in Nigeria’s team, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Nigeria could have him play for the team in the future.
His development with Osnabruck has been a consistent one, and for a player who has good speed, and a brilliant match-reading skill. If he continues on that route perhaps the big clubs would come calling for his service, which is currently showing with his performance in the Bundesliga 2, with fifteen games and six assists to his name.
Topman Izuwa – KFC Uerdingen
Izuwa was born in France to Nigerian parents but moved to Germany after his birth and he has a German passport which means he could play for either France or Germany, although Izuwa has confirmed his desire to play for his motherland.
According to Izuwa statement, “I do not have that connection to France even though I was born there, I feel a stronger connection to Nigeria and my father also taught me about my roots never to abandon them, it is not only because of my parents but my own desire to play for Nigeria“.
However, Izuwa also said he won’t turn down an invitation from the German Football Association if they extend the invitation to him, meanwhile, he also said he loves Nigeria and it is his desire to play for the team or the team that sees him as an important player.
Jonas David – Wurzburger Kickers
The German-born defensive midfielder plays for Würzburger Kickers, on loan from Hamburger SV.
David needs consistent playing to develop his game so he was loaned out to enhance his abilities, following last season’s exploit with Hamburger where he led the U19 to glory in the league and was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the club.
The young midfielder has revealed that he would love to play for Nigeria instead of Germany at any level, David was quoted saying:
“I want to make my father proud and playing for the country that he comes from will help me fulfill my aim of making him very happy“.
David has never been to Nigeria but he hopes to get an invite to any of the national teams.
He has one similar thing with that of former Eagles captain John Obi Mikel, he is very versatile, have an eyes for long and short passes. If he continues with his development with the Kickers, definitely the sky is just a starting point for the young German-born.
