Nigerian Federation Want Arsenal-Bound Omidiji To Represent Golden Eaglets At 2019 Fifa U17s

The Nigeria Football Federation have set the wheels in motion to beat their United States counterparts over the international future of Sparta Rotterdam youth-teamer Lateef Omidiji Jnr.

American-born Omidiji trained with the United States U14s late 2016, but has not totally ruled out the possibility of representing Nigeria when the qualifiers for the 2019 Fifa U17 World Cup begins next year.

“The Nigerian Football Federation are fighting to keep him with Nigerian Football instead of US Soccer in anticipation of the 2019 U17 World Cup, ’’ a top source told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“Through intermediaries in Holland, we know the NFF are fighting hard to grab him back from US Soccer although I think it’ll be difficult.’’

The 13-year-old Omidiji, who has agreed terms with Arsenal, will be 16 years when the 2019 Fifa U17 World Cup is staged.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel