NFF Aware Of Southampton Prodigy Obafemi Before Ireland Call-Up, Pinnick 'Very Passionate' About Striker

Southampton wonderkid Michael Obafemi had been on the radar of Nigeria Football Federation chiefs before being named to Ireland's provisional roster for their upcoming games in November.

Allnigeriasoccer.com can report with certainty that Obafemi was first proposed to the Nigerian Federation after playing a friendly against the Golden Eaglets back in 2015 but was rejected by the then coach Emmanuel Amuneke and further contact with the Federation did not yield any results.

'To fulfill all righteousness', this website contacted a high-ranking member of the Nigerian Federation for an official explanation as to why the teenage striker was not called up to the national teams.

''We tried to convince him, he has finally decided to play for Ireland,'' the top NFF official explained to  allnigeriasoccer.com.

''Some of these players, people try to poison their mind about coming to Nigeria unless those that are good talents we want to work on.

''If he plays any competitive match for Ireland, it is finished.

''The President of the NFF (Pinnick), was very passionate about bringing him to play for Nigeria but it has not ended well.''

The 18-year-old Obafemi will become cap-tied to Republic of Ireland if he makes his competitive debut against Denmark in a UEFA Nations League tie on November 19.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel