The English Football Association is set to make a last ditch effort to convince Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi to play for England, and not Nigeria.
The 19 year old, who is also nephew to Legendary African footballer Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, has been a regular in the Arsenal first team this season and last weekend scored his first premier league goal for Arsenal.
Iwobi has played for England’s Under-16, U17 and U18 sides before choosing to represent Nigeria, the country of his birth after being convinced by Sunday Oliseh and his uncle Jay Jay Okocha..
Alex Iwobi has played in two friendlies for Nigeria, but won’t be officially tied to them until he plays a competitive game for Nigeria, meaning England have about five days to convince him to change his mind.
Read the report from MirrorSport below…
”Iwobi is in line to make his competitive debut THIS WEEK after being named in Nigeria’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double header against Egypt, who they host this Friday before the away return next Tuesday.’ That has prompted desperate late attempts from the FA to try to get Iwobi to change his mind.
There is no suggestion Iwobi will be fast-tracked into the senior England set-up and handed a premature call-up. But FA chiefs do see him as a potential future Three Lions international and know their hopes of landing him will be dashed if he plays in Nigeria’s upcoming games.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has backed up the FA’s views on Iwobi by giving the youngster a glowing reference.” ”He is understood to have told the FA the player has a big future at the North Londoners and, having let him get away once, they should do everything possible to try to get him back.’