Nigeria call up Arsenal youngster Iwobi
Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has included Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi in his squad for next month’s friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.
The Super Eagles take on Democratic Republic of Congo on October 8 then face Cameroon three days later.
Iwobi, a nephew of the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha and who trained with the Nigeria U23s in early March, is eligible to represent the country of his birth despite featuring for England at youth level.
FIFA have clarified that the 19–year-old forward could now represent Nigeria because he did not feature for England in an official game.
The NFF have now received from The Football Association a list of seven matches that Iwobi played for England at youth level, none of which was an official game.
FIFA confirmed that Iwobi can put on the green-white-green since he has permanent Nigerian citizenship and did not represent another association in a match in an official competition.
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2 Comments
Iwobi does not play competitive football for Arsenal, yet he is deemed experienced enough to play for Nigeria. What a far cry from the days of Jay Jay, Nwankwo, Taribo, Oliseh. All these were first team players in their various European clubs.
Thanks Ify. You are right in a way. However the same thing was said in 2002 when Arsene Wenger recommended to Sven Ericksen (England Manager) that the 17 year old Theo Walcott be taken to the World Cup as part of the England Squad. This was done without him be a regular in Arsenal and had never played for England. Theo Walcott is now a regular and established England player. Let us encourage the young ones. There was / is this great Coach Company between Onitsha and Lagos with the name – THE YOUNG SHALL GROW”!
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