Eze who has trained with the Super Eagles before (March 2017) while the Nigerian team prepared for friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London, finally chose England and has played for them at U21 level, but Nigeria has not relented.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick was in the United Kingdom over the weekend to meet with the QPR midfield maestro as discussions continued over switching nationality and playing for Nigeria.
According to @TheNFF on Twitter, “The conversation is ongoing about the possibility of Eze turning out for Nigeria.”
On Friday, in the Championship, Fulham played against Queens Park Rangers with Eze in action during the game.
QPR lost 2-1 at Fulham with Eze playing all 90 minutes in the encounter.
Amaju Pinnick watched that game and had previously met with Eze’s father to discuss the possibility of a switch for his son.
After the game, on Saturday, Eberechi Eze visited the home of Pinnick in London as discussions continued.
According to @TheNFF, “The player (Eze) was informed of the president’s (Pinnick) desire which echoes that of many Nigerians to see Ebere Eze switch allegiance and start playing his international football for Nigeria.”
Apparently, the player did not give a straight forward answer but rather requested for the chance to continue to focus on his club career “which is going on well so far and that further progress will be made in due course.”
How Eze’s addition to the Super Eagles will work
For the first time in a long time, the Super Eagles have a packed midfield of quality players reminiscent of the 90s when Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Mutiu Adepoju and Thompson Oliha played for the team.
In the last two Super Eagles games, the coach started his usual 4-3-3 with Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo in it. Oghenekaro Etebo, the other regular starter before Aribo joined the team is only just coming out of injury and was not even called up.
So, with his return to the team and Eze’s addition, if he makes the switch, Gernot Rohr will certainly be spoiled for choice as regards who to use in midfield.
Then, just like was stated in another write up, Tammy Abraham will love Nigerian football and Nigerians will love his style. It would be a reminder of former great midfield maestros like Jay Jay Okocha, Etim Esin and to an extent, Henry Nwosu.
Nigerian and African football fans love footwork in midfield, the usual showboating and take ons too. All these attributes Ebere has shown.
However, Rohr would be hard pressed to pick between Joe Aribo and Eberechi Eze if the switch happens, but all these will be considered after he agrees to change nationality and the paper work is done. It is still early days yet
But does Gernot Rohr really want Eze?
It seems the president of the Nigeria Football Federation is bent on having Eberechi Eze change nationality to Nigeria as soon as possible, but is it in concert with what the coach wants?
Gernot Rohr stated in an interview just last week that he is not looking to add any new players to the Super Eagles and is happy with what he has already.
The NFF president is doing his job as the Federation boss. He will negotiate with and convince as many Nigerian players as possible to join the team, but it is the coach that decides who to call up and who to use.
Right now, it seems the Eberechi Eze to Nigeria discuss is a big circus show because doubters would turn to a few years ago when the president of the NFF also tweeted that he had just concluded discussions with Tammy Abraham. And this was complete with photos, only for the Chelsea boy to go public saying no agreement was reached.
There was certainly a meeting between Amaju Pinnick and Eberechi Eze’s father; there was also certainly a meeting in Pinnick’s house with Ebere, meaning that the boy visited him, but there really was no commitment from the kid on his international future.
Right now, he plays for England at U21 level and it will take a lot and maybe a big coup to get him to switch allegiance to Nigeria.
But if he eventually does, then the Super Eagles continue to get better and better.
Comments
Post a Comment