Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) seem to have usurped their English counterparts in the battle to secure the services of Arsenal’s whiz-kid, Alex Iwobi.
ConnectNigeria reported yesterday how Nigeria and England were trying to woo the highly-rated youngster to pledge allegiance to either of them. Iwobi, 18, was born in Lagos and currently captains Arsenal’s Under 21 side. He has featured for England at Under 16, 17 and 18 levels but remains eligible to don the green white green through his parentage.
Interestingly, the player who is also Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s nephew has accepted NFF’s invitation for an Olympic get together in preparation for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Brasil and now looks set to follow the path of Victor Moses and Sone Aluko.
According to British tabloid newspaper Dailymail UK, Iwobi reiterated the influence of his father Chuka Iwobi, uncle Jay Jay and Nwankwo Kanu on his decision. ‘Ordinarily I would have loved to play for England since I have played for all the under-aged teams up to the U-19 but Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu have influenced my decision to play for Nigeria.’ He further stressed ‘My dad too has told me a lot of things about the honour and pride that goes with playing for Nigeria. ‘So I thought a lot about this and decided to play for Nigeria.’
Iwobi has flown into the country alongside his father and took part in Dream Team VI training session yesterday evening. He is due to return to North London on Sunday and will be hoping to make a lasting impression on the handlers of the team in such short period. Being just 18, Iwobi remains eligible to appear for Nigeria and England until he makes a competitive senior bow for the Super Eagles.
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