Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed firm optimism that some young Nigerians who are blazing the trail in the English League, including Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and Liverpool’s Ovie Ejaria will play for the Super Eagles at the appropriate time.
Pinnick told the media in Abuja that it had always been the dream of the present NFF board to build a young Super Eagles team that will go on to conquer the world by 2022, adding that they are monitoring several Nigerian players making waves in the various leagues of Europe.
“The initial plan was to take our players in the various clubs but now what are trying to do is what we call VIP scouting – talking to these young players that are playing abroad to play for their father land. Tyrone Ebuehi did not say he won’t play for Nigeria, but his agent want him to settle down in his new club first,” Pinnick said.
“If you talk about Tammy Abraham, he is like my son, his father and I grew up in the same neighbourhood. so when they talk about him, I just laugh because I know what to do. As for Ovie Ejaria, I talk with the father often, he just called me recently. These are people we have met and they are all excited about Nigeria,” Pinnick quipped.
He continued: “ I am yet to see a Nigerian that is regretting being a Nigerian. No Nigerian, even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited being Nigerians. I can assure you that we shall get them to play for us at appropriate time.”
credit: vanguardngr