Liverpool youngster Jordon Ibe grabbed the headlines last week after long-serving and departing captain, Steven Gerrard named him, Phillipe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson as the future of the club.
Gerrard speaking to former Liverpool teammate, Jaime Redknapp described the England youth of Nigerian descent as a future England star.
“I should mention Jordon Ibe to you too. He’s got everything. He’s got a bit of Sturridge and Sterling rolled into one and if he keeps listening to the right people, he will be one for England.” He said.
However, football fans in Nigeria have implored the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to act swiftly and swoop the pacy winger before England pounces and caps him at senior level.
Nigeria and England have been embroiled in a similar case in the past and most recently lost out on Everton playmaker, Ross Barkley who was rewarded for his impressive displays last season with a seat on England’s flight to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
So what do we know about Jordon Ibe?
– Jordon Ashley Femi Ibe was born in South London on December 8 1995.
-He was released by Charlton at the age of 12.
– He was picked up by Wycombe Wanderers and came through their youth system, making his first team debut in the League Cup aged just 15 years and 244 days.
– He scored on his first senior start against Sheffield Wednesday on October 29, becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer in the Football League.
– Ibe signed for Liverpool in December 2011, after just 11 first-team appearances for Wycombe, for £500,000.
– In March 2013 he was named in the Premier League squad for a match at Southampton, although he did not make his maiden senior appearance until the final day of the season, at home to QPR, to become the fourth-youngest Liverpool debutant.
– He has had loan spells in the Championship with Birmingham, where he scored once in 11 games in 2014, and Derby, where he impressed in scoring five times in 20 appearances – form which resulted in him being recalled early last month.
– He has played international football for England at U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels. He scored a hat trick in 6-0 trashing of Montenegro U-19 side.
About the Writer: Arinze Ude (@arturozinga) is an aspiring cancer research scientist with a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (Haematology). He is keen on building partnerships and managing the careers of Nigerian sportsmen and women. He blogs at http://arturozinga.wordpress.com
