Nigerian-born Patrick Nwegbo has turned down the chance to play for the United States of America, with the 16-year old restating his determination to wait for a call-up to the Golden Eaglets who are preparing to take part in the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania in 2019.
The striking sensation who is popularly referred to as ‘Diba’ currently has 15 goals to his credit this season playing in the Elite Club Soccer League (ECNL) for Alabama FC and is making waves as one of the most promising talents in America with pundits already touting him as a potential star with a great future.
He also bagged a brace for the ECNL National Select Team against Bahamas in a friendly match recently.
Born in Georgia to Nigerian parents, Nwegbo has dual citizenship and is currently being lured to feature for the USA U-17 team but the youngster is more disposed to playing for multiple FIFA U-17 World Cup champions Nigeria.
The teenager emerged top scorer in the 2017 U-16 SPRL Summer League and was also the top scorer in the Tri-State Area of Georgia/North Carolina/South Carolina in 2016. He also had playing stints with VGC FC and BRF Academy while in Nigeria.
In a chat with Complete Sports, Nwegbo’s Spain-based manager/agent Kingsley Ndibe reveals the lad’s development is currently being monitored by several European clubs who are only waiting for him to finish his high school next year.
“Nwegbo is a young promising footballer and the only thing holding him is high school. Once he finishes, he will be leaving the USA to Europe. And he prefers to play for Nigeria’s U-17 team than to be capped by the US,” Nwegbo said.
“He is good enough and will be an important addition to make the Golden Eaglets team ahead of the 2019 U-17 AFCON billed for Tanzania.”
Nwegbo, who can also play as central attacking midfielder, is currently a student at the North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia and has won several awards in U-16 and U-18 football competitions.