Chelsea midfielders Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka are on the verge of switching national allegiances in time for next month’s international break, according to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Both players have been included in the Super Eagles’ 31-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda in March.
New head coach Eric Chelle has extended invitations to the duo, who have previously featured for the youth teams of France and England, respectively.
Ugochukwu, currently on loan at Southampton, has reportedly already submitted his paperwork to complete the nationality switch.
Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka, who is on loan at Borussia Dortmund, has also initiated the process to represent Nigeria at the senior level.
However, time is of the essence, as the documentation process must be finalized before next month’s fixtures. Ugochukwu’s switch is expected to be more straightforward, while Chukwuemeka faces additional hurdles, needing clearance from all four UK football associations before receiving official approval.
Chukwuemeka has played for England across multiple youth levels—U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21—while Ugochukwu, born in France, has featured at U20 level for the French national team.
Both midfielders have struggled for game time this season, and securing international minutes could provide a much-needed boost for the remainder of their club campaigns.
Additionally, representing Nigeria at the senior level would enhance their visibility on the international stage.
