Fourth Time Switzerland Have Beaten Nigeria To Dual-Eligible Player As Basel's Okafor Makes Senior Debut

Published: June 09, 2019

The Nigeria Football Federation have missed out on the services of highly-rated Basel winger Noah Okafor, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Wearing the number 7 jersey, Okafor made his senior debut for Switzerland when he came off the bench in the 113th minute as replacement for Haris Seferović in a UEFA Nations League match against England at the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques (Guimarães) on Sunday afternoon.

In doing so, he became the first 2000s player to appear for Switzerland's senior national team and became cap-tied to his country of birth.

It had been a foregone conclusion that Okafor would make his senior debut sooner rather than later after an outstanding season for Basel, which has put him in the shop window with clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga credited with an interest.

This is the fourth time the Swiss Football Association have beaten the Nigerian Federation to the services of a dual-eligible player, with Innocent Emeghara, Eseosa Aigbogun and Manuel Akanji who had been eligible to represent Nigeria already cap-tied to the Europeans.

The Nigerian Federation higher-ups, Amaju Pinnick and Seyi Akinwunmi in particular, have managed to convince dual-eligible players such as Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi, Troost-Ekong and Bryan Idowu to pledge their international futures to the Super Eagles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : football.ch