19 year old Republic of Ireland forward Michael Obafemi would have represented Nigeria long before he decided to represent Ireland, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
The forward was part of the Team Nigeria UK team that played in a friendly game against the Nigeria U17 team in 2015 as part of preparations for the World Youth Championship which Nigeria won.
Obafemi according to a member of the technical crew of the Nigeria U17 team back impressed despite the heavy defeat they suffered but they passed on the chance to invite him because they felt Victor Osimhen is better.
Osimhen went ahead to finish as top scorer in the tournament further justifying the confidence the coaches have in him but fast forward to 2019 and Obafemi has emerged as one of the force behind a Southampton team that is pushing to avoid the drop in the English Premier League.
” I remember the lad. Dark and shot back then with pace and power. They lost heavily but he impressed very well. Three of the coaches were sold out on him but it was always going to be tough because we had Osimhen who was in the form of his life and even scored five times in the friendly game against Team Nigeria UK”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” The team Nigeria UK consists of players who were born abroad and in that game against us Obafemi was very good but not as good as Osimhen. He was also very tiny back then unlike now. We can only wish him well”.
Nigeria can no longer have the service of the forward as he has already represented Ireland in a competitive game at senior level after making the step up from the U19 to the first team in 2018.
Ade Emmanuel
