American-Born Lateef Omidiji Jr Ready To Justify Wonderkid Tag; Will Train With Nigeria U17s If...

FC Dordrecht superkid Lateef Omidiji Jr will not turn down the opportunity to train with the Nigeria U17s ahead of their Africa U17 Nations Cup qualifier against Niger Republic if he is officially invited to the squad, his father has disclosed.

Coach Manu Garba is presently running the rule over some of the outstanding youngsters in the country in Abuja, and local media claimed on Friday that he has thrown a challenge to the striker to justify his wonderkid tag by attending the screening exercise.

“I have not been in contact with Manu Garba although I am a huge fan of his work and know he’s one of the most accomplished coaches in Nigeria, ”  Lateef Omidiji Sr said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

“It will be an honor for my son to get an invite. The U13/U15 coach - Coach Danladi Nasidi has definitely scouted him and seen him play and is a huge admirer of Lateef jr.

“Coach Nasidi actually watched him play seven matches in a tournament in Las Vegas.”

Lateef Omidiji Sr added that it will be a major statement from the Nigeria Football Federation if his 12-year-old son is officially called up to train with the squad.

“I also think that if he is invited to the U17s, it’ll be a major statement from the NFF, from the board to the administrators to the coaches that the youth is the future and I think both Nigeria and the world would take notice of that statement.

“Is it probable that he gets an invite to try out for the U17s?  I don’t think so. Would it be welcomed and would he be up to the task- absolutely. It’ll be an honor. ”

Lateef Omidiji Jr is eligible to represent the national teams of Nigeria and the United States but has pledged his international future to the Africans.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel