Nigeria, Spain Behind Equatorial Guinea In Race For Espanyol DM Saúl Coco Bassey

Published: July 09, 2018

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that the Nigeria Football Federation are lagging behind their Equatoguinean counterparts in the race for the services of Espanyol wonderkid Saúl Basilio Coco-Bassey Oubiña.

Bassey is highly rated by the Espanyol youth team coaches and has been tipped to break into the first team of the Barcelona-based club in the not too distant future if he lives up to his billing.

Born in Lanzarote, Spain to a Equatoguinean father and Spanish mom, Bassey can still turn out for the Super Eagles if the granny rule is invoked as he has a Nigerian paternal grandfather.

Of all the three countries the defensive midfielder can represent, it's the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol that have made the first move to cap him, handing him an invitation for a friendly against Benin in September 2017 before he finally made his debut against Kenya two months ago.

However, friendlies are friendlies, the Nigerian Federation have less than two months to convince Bassey to play for the Super Eagles, with Equatorial Guinea set to take on Sudan in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

The 19-year-old will become cap-tied to the Nzalang Nacional if he makes his competitive debut against the Sudanese.

Bassey sparkled as Espanyol youth team won the Catalonia Cup last month.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : lanzarotedeportiva.com