Head coach of the Nigeria U20 team Paul Aigbogun has exclusively revealed that he held talks with players of Nigerian descent to switch allegiance to Nigeria when he visited England last month.
The coach was in England last month to renew his papers and according to the soft spoken tactician he met with some players playing for the B team of top clubs in England, who are eligible to feature for his Under-20 team.
Aigbogun and his wards are in Mauritania for the first leg tie of the final round of qualifiers for the African Youth Championship but before living Nigeria, he confirmed to Owngoalnigeria.com that positive talks were held with players of Nigerian descent, most of whom he met while in England last month.
” I met a couple of players who are eligible for England and also Nigeria. They are within the age limit require for my team and we had positive talks about a switch of allegiance to Nigeria “, Aigbogun exclusively told Owngoalnigeria.com in Abuja.
” They are willing to play for Nigeria and some of them would have been in my squad for the Mauritania game but it’s pre season time and most of them will be involved with the first team.
” Aside playing for the youth teams of top clubs in England, they have what we think we lack at that moment in the team but that doesn’t mean an automatic shirt for them. They have to come here and slug it out with the lads we have in camp”, the coach concluded.
Ade Emmanuel
