Wolves GK Trying To Persuade Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs Talents To Choose Nigeria

Wolverhampton Wanderers netminder Carl Ikeme has been attempting to persuade English-born young talents of Nigerian descent to commit their international future to the Super Eagles rather than the Three Lions at senior level.

Six players of Nigerian descent in the shape of Chelsea duo Dominic Solanke and Fikayo Tomori, Liverpool midfielders Sheyi Ojo and Ovie Ejaria, Everton exciting winger Ademola Lookman and Tottenham Hotspur starlet Josh Onomah played key roles as England won the Fifa U20 World Cup in South Korea this summer.

Defender Dominic Iorfa has been weighing up whether to opt for Nigeria after the U21 EURO, while Ola Aina (Chelsea) and Chuba Akpom (Arsenal) trained with the Super Eagles during their get-together in London three months ago.

Asked if he been talking to any UK-based players of Nigerian descent who are eligible to play for Nigeria, including those who recently won the World Cup, Ikeme told thenff.com : ''Yeah, I speak to them. Dominic Iorfa is still young, he is just 21; I'm sure with time, he would still play for Nigeria.

''He still has some time to make the decision. It is promising that we have a lot of players of Nigerian descent in England and across Europe and I think it's something we can tap into and help make our team stronger. ''

Sutton Coldfield-born Carl Ikeme became cap-tied to Nigeria when he made his competitive debut for the Super Eagles in an African Cup of Nations qualifier versus Tanzania in September 2015.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : thefa.com