Nigeria keen on Onouha
Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu will try to persuade Nedum Onuoha to represent his team at international level. The Manchester City defender played for the England Under-21 side at this year's European championship but has not yet won a full cap for the senior side. Onouha has dual nationality and is eligible to represent Nigeria after a Fifa vote in June removed the age limit on changing national teams. He was initially approached by the country of his birth in 2007 but turned the offer down. This could be a big concern for the club given I'm sure Onouha is lined up to replace Kolo Toure whilst he is set to be away on African Nations duty. Whilst he is an under-21 international and has all the tools to eventually make the step up to senior level for England there is no guarantee of this, and it is a position England are strong in. No news from Onouha on a likely decision so far, but whilst the decision will be a tough one, the lure from Nigeria must undoubtedly be strong.
3 comments:
Hi Danny,
As far as I'm aware, Nedum is no longer eligible to play for Nigeria under FIFA rules.
Those rules state that if you've played for one country at any level (as Onuoha has with England in the Under-21s), you can't switch to another country once you're over 21.
Type "Dennis Aogo" and "ineligible" into Google and you'll find an example of Nigeria tying themselves in knots over this rule back in April.
Actually, ignore the above comment - I've just realised the age limit rule was amended in June! (oops.)
Don't you remember Jack Charlton's criteria for playing for Ireland?
Are your mother or father Irish?
Are any of your grandparents Irish?
Do you know anyone who's Irish?
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