'My father is from there' - European-born GK reveals he is open to representing Nigeria

IFK Värnamo's tri-national goalkeeper Jonathan Rasheed has revealed that he is open to representing the Super Eagles.

Born in Gothenburg to a Nigerian father and Norwegian mother, Rasheed is eligible to play for the national teams of Sweden, Norway and Nigeria, but he has yet to win a senior cap for any of the aforementioned countries. 

In recent days, Rasheed's name has cropped up in the local media as a possible reinforcement to the Super Eagles goalkeeper ranks after the dismal performance of Francis Uzoho in back-to-back friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

The 31-year-old Rasheed admitted that he learned about a potential invitation to the Super Eagles via social media. 

"It started a week ago. I was tagged in several posts on Twitter (now X) and Instagram, and yes. It was friends who wrote that it had started to be talked about and so on," Rasheed said to Fotbollskanalen.

"I don't know what it is or where it comes from, but there have been people who have written to me about it. It is fun. It probably means that you have done something good.

Super Eagles fans pleaded with Rasheed to choose Nigeria over the other countries he's eligible for and when asked if he has a Nigerian passport, he replied in the affirmative.
 

Asked if there have been contacts with the Nigeria Football Federation, Rasheed answered: "I personally have had no contact with anyone. But I hope it might come."

Rasheed says it would be a dream to represent Nigeria - a country with a lot of history and good players especially in the 1990s.

"It would have been awesome. My father is from there and I have always been aware of Nigeria, Norway and Sweden.

"I would have been proud if given the chance. It's basically the biggest thing you can do as a player."

Rasheed, who is a late bloomer, has posted six clean sheets in 19 Allsvenskan matches in the 2023 season while conceding 20 goals.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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