Versatile Sunderland defender commits international future to Nigeria ahead of U17 AFCON qualifiers

Allnigeriasoccer.com has been told that Sunderland youth teamer Calvin Okike has decided to represent Nigeria at international level. 

Okike also qualifies to represent the national teams of England but is uncapped for the Young Lions. 

The 16-year-old is targeting a call-up to the Golden Eaglets ahead of the start of the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations qualifiers. 

He has been described as a versatile defender who is capable of playing anywhere across the back four including centre-back and left-back. 

Okike is one of the top young talents in the Sunderland Academy and has been tipped to sign a scholarship deal ahead of the 2024-2025 season. 

The 16-year-old will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Super Eagles attacker Josh Maja and Sweden international Joel Asoro who rose through the academy ranks to make their first team debuts for the Black Cats. 

Five-time world champions Nigeria are not competing at the upcoming Fifa U17 World Cup in Indonesia after they were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa U17 Cup of Nations by Burkina Faso. 

Coach Manu Garba named dual national goalkeepers Daniel JInadu and Joseph Oluwabusola in his squad list for the 2019 Fifa U17 World Cup hosted by Brazil.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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