When Nigeria U20 resume training in Germany for the World Youth Championship in Poland later this year, a total of eight players born abroad within the age limit of the tournament will join the team, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Nigeria qualified for the World Youth Championship after finishing fourth at the recently concluded Africa U20 Cup of Nations and coach Paul Aigbogun has been combing Europe for eligible players to beef up his squad.
The coach is in London where he has so far met with Nigerian players who were born abroad and are representing other nations, same way he has also scouted other players plying their trade abroad who are eligible to play for his team in Poland.
” I’ve been watching lot of games in Europe and also meeting some Nigerian players born abroad. So far I’ve recorded some success with five German-Nigerian players already confirming their willingness to be part of the team”, Aigbogun told Owngoalnigeria.com in an exclusive chat.
” In England I’ve also succeeded in convincing three players who have already played for England to switch allegiance to Nigeria, they’ve agreed and hopefully we will watch them at close quarters when training resumes.
” Aside the ones in England and Germany, I’ve also had fruitful discussions with some foreign based players in Austria and Sweden as well. We need to give everybody eligible the chance to stake a claim particularly the players born abroad since they want to play for Nigeria “, he concluded.
Osas Mahawi
