Blow for Nigeria as Arsenal's Nwaneri could become provisionally cap-tied to England this week

After playing at least twelve non-binding games in total for England's U16 and U17 teams, all of them friendly matches, record-breaking Arsenal attacking midfielder of Nigerian descent, Ethan Nwaneri could become provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth as early as Tuesday, October 25. 

Nwaneri has received a call-up for England's UEFA European Under-17s Championship qualifying round in October. 

The 2017 world champions will face Lithuania (October 25), Georgia (October 28), and Israel (October 31) in Group 3, with the aim of progressing to the elite qualifying round in the spring. 

If given game time in any of the upcoming matches, Nwaneri will formally become provisionally cap-tied to England and must submit a request for change of association should he decide to represent Nigeria in future, provided he has not played competitively for the Three Lions. 

Still only 15, the London-born Ethan qualifies to represent the Golden Eaglets through his Nigerian dad, Obi Nwaneri. 

This season has been a memorable one for Nwaneri, after making his debuts in the Premier League, Premier League 2 and Papa Johns Trophy. 

When he made his first team debut off the bench against Brentford last month,  the Hale End Academy product became the youngest player in history to feature in the top flight of English football and the Premier League aged 15 years and 181 days, breaking the record previously held by ex-Sunderland star Derek Forster (15 years and 184 days) and former Fulham starlet Harvey Elliot (16 years and 30 days) respectively.

Super Eagles players past and present  Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Victor Moses played international football for England U17s before switching nationality to Nigeria, 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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