A top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed talks with Sparta Rotterdam midfielder Ryan Sanusi who has indicated his interest to play for Nigeria ahead of Belgium.
The 25 year old hinted at talks with Nigeria early this month, when he told Belgium publication Voetbalbelgie.be of his interest of representing Nigeria at the World Cup.
” It’s not something I’m really working on, but it would of course be great”, he was quoted as saying by Het Algemeen Dagblad of Voetbalbelgie.be.
In the same interview he said he fancies his chance more with Nigeria than with Belgium, and he is hopeful his form with Sparta Rotterdam will be enough for him to get a look in.
Speaking to Owngoalnigeria.com on the condition of anonymity , a member of the NFF confirmed Sanusi who happens to be the cousing to Tottenham Hotspur star forward Mousa Dembele, is among players they are hoping to lure to the Super Eagles.
” A line of communication has been opened with him, we will see in the coming days what comes out of it, but I can tell you he is under the watch of the technical crew of the team”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has been very busy luring players who have dual nationality to pledge their allegiance to Nigeria, and Sanusi could be next to join the Super Eagles.
A defensive midfielder by trade he represented Belgium once at U20 level and that was in 2012, since then he has not made the squad of Belgium at any level.
Since joining Sparta in 2015 he has made 75 appearances, with 16 of his total appearances coming this season in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he is already five games away from his last season league appearance of 21.
Ade Emmanuel
