England Ahead Of Nigeria In Race To Cap Man City Whizkid Kigbu; Earns England Call-Up

The English Football Association are ahead of their Nigerian counterparts in the race to secure the international future of Manchester City wonderkid Ashinme Kigbu.

The defensive all-rounder has been on the radar of the English FA for the past two years, they want him to pledge his international future to England rather than Nigeria, and have invited him to their U18 team for upcoming games in September.

According to Vincent Kigbu, Ashinme’s father, the progress of the stopper at Manchester City was being monitored by the Nigeria Football Federation prior to his call-up to the England team.

“My first choice as a full born Nigerian should be Nigeria. However, for his development I believe the UK is more positioned to offer this to him,” Vincent Kigbu earlier told allnigeriasoccer.com .

“As you are aware as a professional footballer, wherever he is in the world, the club can allow him to attend to all international engagements plus and including playing for Nigeria.

“Nigeria Under 17 and England Under 16 - 17 are watching him keenly, and have asked about him from Manchester City.”

Born in Jos, Ashinme Kigbu penned a three-year professional contract at City this summer and has been promoted to their Elite Development squad.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel