Amaju Pinnick. The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has said the football governing body is not going to run after players of dual nationality to come and play for the Super Eagles. Pinnick who spoke during a live session on NFF’s official Instagram page on Thursday said only players with “the keen interest and resolve” would be encouraged.
It will be recalled that George Abbey, Efan Ekoku, Reuben Agboola, David Adiele and Efe Sodje are some of Nigerian players born abroad but chose to represent their country of origin. And recently Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Victor Moses, Joe Aribo, Bryan Idowu and Tyronne Ebuhehi dumped their adopted countries to play for the Super Eagles.
But after losing Chelsea’s duo of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori to England, some Nigerians have continued to prod the NFF to quickly approach the likes of Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, Dominic Iorfa Jnr of Sheffield Wednesday, Ebere Eze of Queens Park Rangers, Ademola Lookman of Everton and a host of other players with dual nationality before they would be taken away.
However, Pinnick feels differently as he maintained that the football federation won’t compel or beg any player to accept to play for Nigeria.
He was quoted as saying “Nigeria would not beg any player to represent her. It is about ardour and fervour. “If a player has decided for Nigeria and only want to be assured that he would be much welcome, we will come in and provide that assurance.”