By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, President, Amaju Pinnick, says that the era of the Football Federation appealing to dual citizenship players to dorn the Green-White- Green Jerseys has long past.
He made this statement on the NFF Instagram Live page, Thursday, when addressing issues bothering on the clamour from Soccer analysts and enthusiasts calling and urging the NFF to give a Call Up to Arsenal youngster, Bukayo Saka, Queens Park Rangers Football Club midfielder, Ebere Eze, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club forward, Dominic Iorfa Jnr, Manchester City’s loanee, Tosin Adarabioyo amongst others.
This became necessary following the nation’s losing of the Chelsea duo of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori to the Three Lions of England National team, and Southampton Football Club forward, Michael Obafemi to Ireland National team.
Pinnick said there was no way the NFF will force, or mount pressure on, any player with dual citizenship to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles if they aren’t really interested.
“The likes of Abbey Geroge, Tyronne Ebuehi, Efetobore Sodje, Sam Sodje, Victor Moses, Reuben Agboola, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong among others all have dual citizenship, but they chose to play for their fatherland without been forced or pressurized.
“So any player that feels like playing for the Super Eagles should come forward and do the needful. We can’t be begging or persuading any player. That era is far gone”, he stated.
