Billing Chooses Denmark Ahead Of Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria has lost another mercurial midfielder to another Scandinavian country, Denmark, exactly the way it lost Emmanuel Olisadebe to Poland National Football team over a decade ago.

This time around, Bournemouth Football Club, of England midfielder, Phillip Billing, has revealed his intention to play for the Danish National Football team ahead of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The 23-year old has told Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr his decision to play for Denmark, though he has a Nigerian father and a Danish mother.

He is, however, eligible to play for Nigeria and Denmark, but he chose Denmark Ahead of Nigeria.

He has played for Denmark’s U-19 and U-21 teams, but is yet to get a call up to the senior national side of Denmark.

Billing said Rohr wanted him to play for Nigeria but he had made it clear his dream was to play for Denmark.

“It would be strange to stand up for Nigeria when I feel 100 per cent Danish. Of course, I have Nigerian roots and am half Nigerian, but I was raised and born in Denmark.

“I have a Danish mother, Danish little brother and Danish little sister and a Nigerian father. But this is Denmark I want to stand for. That’s my big dream.

“I’ve talked to the Coach, but I know where I want to play? I want to play for Denmark, so it is no longer than that.

“He (Rohr) just said he really wanted me to play for Nigeria because the upcoming World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations will be played soon. I made it pretty clear to him that I wanted to play for Denmark. That’s my big dream,” Billing told BT.

The midfielder also said he had been in touch with Denmark coach, Kasper Hjulmand, and hopes to make his debut for them soon.

“Hopefully this is the last time I have to answer whether I choose Nigeria. I can say that I am 100 per cent in Denmark. I only think these are rumours and that’s to get people talking. But there is nothing at all,” he added.

It would be recalled that the Super Eagles of Nigeria recently lost Tammy Abraham and Oluwafikayomi Tomori to the ‘Three Lions’ of England National team, and are also on the verge of losing another mercurial Arsenal Football Club youngster, Bukayo Saka, if not addressed quickly.