Southampton striker Michael Obafemi has committed his international future at senior level to Nigeria ahead of his country of birth Republic of Ireland.

Although the Super Eagles are nailed-on favorites to land Obafemi, a third country England are also in the mix.

He qualifies to represent the Young Lions through residency rules and the English FA has invited him for some training camps.

Allnigeriasoccer.com has obtained a photograph of Michael Obafemi in a Nigeria kit during his trip to the nation's capital for a pre-World Cup friendly against the Golden Eaglets in June 2015.

There are assurances from the striker's family that he wants to play for Nigeria not Ireland nor England.

Obafemi became the first Nigerian player born in 2000 to feature in the Premier League after making his first-team debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, January 21, aged 17 years and 199 days.

Including today's fixture against Liverpool, he has failed to make Southampton match day squads since his debut but everything is pointing to the fact that he has promoted to the U23s as he has not played for the U18s in their last four games.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel