Owen Asemota: Aston Villa GK becomes sixth Nigerian provisionally cap-tied to England in three days

Arsenal's Hale End Academy product Owen Asemota made his competitive debut for the Young Lions on Sunday, October 27, as England recorded another victory in the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifiers, beating Latvia 4-0 at the Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper is the sixth teenager of Nigerian descent to be provisionally cap-tied to England in just three days, following in the footsteps of Chelsea duo Landon Emenalo and Chizaram Ezenwata, Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha and West Ham United's Chinaza Nwosu and Andre Dike.

Asemota had a dream competitive debut for England U17s, helping the Young Lions post their second consecutive clean sheet in the U17 Euro qualifiers. 

The 16-year-old was a non-playing substitute in England's first game in the qualifiers, a 4-0 win over Malta on Thursday.

Prior to his competitive debut for the Young Lions, the former Arsenal starlet played in friendly matches for England U15 and U16 national teams. 

England were three goals to the good at the interval, with Luke Rawlings, Luca Williams-Barnett, Igor Tyjon finding the back of the net, before Harry Howell wrapped up the scoring in the 57th minute.

Chinaza Nwosu also started for the Young Lions, Emenalo, Dike and Ngumoha entered the game as substitutes in the second half, while two-goal hero in the win versus Malta, Ezenwata was not utilized off the bench.

Up next, the six players of Nigerian descent and their teammates face Sweden on October 30 at the Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, where Neil Ryan's side will be aiming to maintain their one hundred percent record and advance to Round 2 of the Euro qualifiers next spring.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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