'I can represent Nigeria, Italy' - Malmo's new signing open to continuing family tradition with Super Eagles

Tri-national forward Emmanuel Ekong has not ruled out playing international football for Nigeria.

Emmanuel is the son of former Super Eagles midfielder Prince Ikpe Ekong, who was a member of the Nigeria side that finished third at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, featuring in a group game versus Benin and the bronze medal match against Mali.

The Brommapojkarna academy product returned to Swedish football this week, signing a five-year contract with Allsvenskan champions Malmo, which ended his association with Italian outfit Empoli.

With his club future settled, Emmanuel Ekong has to choose the national team to pledge his allegiance to.

National team eligibility under Fifa is determined by factors such as a player's country of birth, their parents' origins or a minimum five-year residency.

Apart from his country of birth, Italy, Emmanuel Ekong is also eligible to represent two other nations, Nigeria through his parents and Sweden where he was raised. 

The 22-year-old made his competitive debut for the U21s in a European U21 Championship qualifier against Georgia exactly three months ago.

Although he is provisionally cap-tied to the Scandinavians, it does not necessarily mean he will choose to play for Sweden at senior level. 

Speaking to Expressen at Malmo's training camp in Marbella on Thursday, Ekong said: "I don't know what the future holds. I can represent Nigeria and Italy too. But right now I'm playing for Sweden. 

"There's a long way to go and I want to do well here in Malmö. But if the Swedish national team calls me, then we'll take it.

"I can't decide. Because I haven't played for any other national team yet. We'll see. I have to do well and then see which national teams are after me."

Emmanuel Ekong was on the radar of the Golden Eaglets coaching staff before the 2019 Fifa U17 World Cup but he declined the offer to play for the five-time world champions because he wanted to focus on his career at Empoli.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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