Nigeria-eligible midfielder Nwaneri scores in his first competitive game for England Youth 

Arsenal's record-breaking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri is now provisionally cap-tied his country of birth England after featuring for the Young Lions in their 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifier against Lithuania at the Tbilisi Sea Technical Center Stadium-Tbilisi on Tuesday afternoon.

Sporting the number 20 at the back of his jersey, Nwaneri entered the game as a substitute in the 79th minute - his first competitive match for the 2017 world champions. 

A dual citizen of Nigeria and England, the London native must request for a one-time change of association should he decide to represent the Nigeria national teams in future, provided that he has not played competitive matches for England's senior team. 

Before today's clash against Lithuania, Nwaneri played in non-binding friendly matches for England's U16 and U17 national teams. 

It was an inspired substitution by England U17 head coach Ryan Garry as Nwaneri restored the Young Lions' two-goal advantage two minutes after his introduction. 

England U17s started their qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Lithuania, with Chelsea midfielder Michael Golding scoring a brace. 

A certain Victor Moses was England's top scorer at the 2007 U17 Euro with three goals, but the former Chelsea and Inter Milan midfielder ended up representing Nigeria at two World Cups, in 2014 and 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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