Liverpool Winger Open To Representing Nigeria Instead Of Netherlands

Published: September 27, 2018

Liverpool winger Bobby Adekanye is considering switching his international allegiance to Nigeria, allnigeriasoccer.com understands.

Born in Ibadan to Nigerian parents, the former Barcelona wonderkid is eligible to represent the three-time African champions internationally but he is provisionally cap-tied to the Netherlands, the country in which he was raised.

Adekanye played three matches for Netherlands U17s in 2015 in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers and was part of their U16 setup but has been in the international wilderness for three years.

He played on the same Netherlands U17 side as AS Roma's Justin Kluivert , who is now a full international for the Netherlands.

The 19-year-old will not deny his country of birth if he is handed a call-up to Nigeria's U23 team ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games.

Adekanye never turned down an approach from Nigeria before making his maiden appearance for Netherlands youth level as he insisted that he would have honored the invitation from the then Nigeria U17 coach Emmanuel Amuneke if his club had been contacted.

His performances for Liverpool U23 team this season caught the eye of manager Jurgen Klopp, who invited him to train with the first team during this month's international break.

The Royal Dutch Football Association are in the driving seat to cap another Nigerian-born winger, Club Brugge's Arnaut Danjuma, after naming him in their provisional squad for next month's games against Germany and Belgium.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel