SPAL CB reveals why he has committed international future to Nigeria over England and Canada

Left-footed SPAL central defender Malik Owolabi-Belewu has pledged his international future to Nigeria though he is eligible to represent his country of birth, England and Canada.

The 2002-born Owolabi-Belewu has trained with Canada's U15, U16 and U19 national teams in the past and was called up for a Nigeria U17 training camp last year but did not attend due to club commitments.

The promising center back has revealed that he has opted to represent Nigeria because of his mother and predicted that the country will be a world football superpower in the coming years.

"Apart from Nigeria I'm able to play for England and Canada, but I chose Nigeria because I've grown up in the Nigerian tradition and culture, and my mother was born in Nigeria as well as lived there," Owolabi-Belewu said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

"So I feel it's a way for me to give her something back for all the sacrifices she's made for me to be able to get to where I've wanted to get to.

"On top of those reasons Nigeria have a lot of up-and-coming talents and I feel in the next coming years they can really be a squad that does well in the World Cup as well as doing well in the Africa Cup of Nations as it does right now.

"I feel like we can really be a strong team in the next two to three years, dominating World Cups and international tournaments."

Owolabi-Belewu was a non-playing substitute for SPAL's first team when they faced Bari and Crotone in the Coppa Italia this season.