As Nigeria get set to take on Algeria in an international friendly game on the 27th of this month, the technical crew of the team lost out on one of the players they badly wanted to be a part of the squad.
Crystal Palace rising star Malcolm Ebiowei was penned down to be a part of the team owing to his fine start to the season for Crystal Palace, the team he joined in the summer from Derby County. He made a big impression on coach Patrick Viera hence the decision not to send him on loan.
His form didn’t go unnoticed back home where his uncle Finidi George works with new coach Jose Peseiro as one of his assistants. A Super Eagles call up was discussed with Nigeria technical director Austine Eguavoen who in turn told Peseiro about the former Nigeria U17 invitee.
Peseiro gave Eguavoen the go ahead to speak with the left footed forward but was told by his father that already he has been contacted to be a part of the England U21 set up for the next international break. He said his son has made up his mind to play for England for now.
He didn’t rule out a switch to Nigeria in the future. Earlier today he was called up to the England U21 team for their upcoming games against Chile and Morocco in Spain. He has previously played for England and Netherlands at U16 level.
In 2019 he was in the camp of the Nigeria U17 team but was omitted in the final list of players for the tournament with what some sources said was for controversial reasons. It is not certain if that incident played a role in his decision to pledge his future to England for the main time.
