The Nigeria Football Federation has started pressing the
right buttons with respect to Arsenal under 21 skipper Alex Iwobi, donning the
jersey of their Olympic National Team in the near future.
If we are to put the cart before the horse, the attacking
midfielder could play his first game for the Dream Team against Zambia in a
month's time in the return leg of the All Africa Games qualifiers.
Emma Okocha, a retired Nigeria international and
representative of Alex Iwobi, has been in contact with his nephew, and he's
optimistic that the paperwork necessary for his international switch to be official
will be completed on or before the next three weeks.
''Alex Iwobi has not been able to get the clearance from
Fifa yet. It should be ready in the next two or three weeks,'' Emma Okocha told
SL10.ng.
''He has applied for a one time switch. The game against
Gabon is out of it, but subsequent games he'll be able to play.''
It has been claimed that ex Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu and
Austin Okocha influenced Iwobi's decision to play for Nigeria instead of
England, but Emma Okocha has a different opinion.
''Nobody decided for him. He likes the atmosphere, he likes
Nigeria. He was with them in Gabon.
''As soon as he gets the clearance from Fifa, he will come
down for the next game,'' Emma Okocha stressed.
For now, Alex Iwobi is still on the books of the English
Football Association, but the NFF have disclosed that he'll be invited for the
friendly against Bolivia, and they are on the right path even if approval is
not gotten from Fifa before March 26.
Since the match is unofficial, the youngster is permitted to
turn out for the Super Eagles.
No comments:
Post a Comment