The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in a race against time to complete the international switch of allegiance of on loan Chelsea midfield duo Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Both players were named in the provisional list of 31 players called up by the newly appointed coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle, for the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.
Ugochukwu who is on loan to Southampton represented France at various youth levels, but he is still eligible for Nigeria at senior international level and has already submitted his papers for a switch of nationality.
Chukwuemeka who is on loan to Borussia Dortmund have also applied for a switch of nationality spurning the option of continuing with England or representing Canada.
The only fear is if their papers will be ready before the games in the month of March. That of Ugochukwu is not expected to pose more of a problem like that of Chukwuemeka due to the complex nature of the composition of the English FA that requires approval from all it’s affiliates under the United Kingdom.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
