The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is preparing to make a significant move to secure the international allegiance of Arsenal’s rising star Ethan Nwaneri, who qualifies for Nigeria through his paternal lineage.
This development comes shortly after the 18-year-old’s impressive debut for England’s Under-21 team, where he marked his first appearance with a stunning goal in a 4-2 victory over Portugal.
Nwaneri, who made history as the youngest-ever Premier League player at 15 years and 181 days old, has already demonstrated his exceptional talent at Arsenal, scoring eight goals for the first team and matching John Radford’s record for most goals scored by an Arsenal player before turning 18.
His recent performances, including goals in successive Champions League matches, have further elevated his profile in international football.
According to Sportsboom, the NFF is planning to dispatch a delegation to London in the coming weeks to meet with Nwaneri and his family.
This approach follows Nigeria’s recent pattern of actively pursuing dual-nationality players to strengthen their national team. The federation’s proactive strategy has seen them target several young talents with Nigerian heritage, although they have faced mixed success in these recruitment efforts .
Former Nigeria defender Sam Sodje has acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “He’s a fantastic talent. I watched him play against Brentford, and I was very impressed.
“However, convincing him to choose Nigeria over England will be a challenge. The English FA is also keen on keeping him, and they won’t let such a talent slip away easily. But in football, you never know.”
The situation mirrors previous cases of players choosing between England and Nigeria, such as Bukayo Saka and Alex Iwobi, who made different decisions regarding their international futures.
While Saka opted for England, Iwobi chose to represent Nigeria, highlighting the complex nature of such decisions for dual-nationality players.
