Omotara Junaid: Arsenal's Super Falcons-eligible midfielder promoted to England U19s squad

Arsenal U21 captain Omotara Junaid has been promoted to England Women's U19s squad for the 2024-2025 season, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

The box-to-box midfielder has received her first call-up to the England U19 team ahead of friendly matches against Spain, the United States and the Netherlands.

Born to an English mother and a Nigerian father in the United States, the tri-national player became provisionally cap-tied to England by featuring in their opening game of the Elite Round of the 2024 UEFA Women’s U17 EURO against Serbia.

The 17-year-old was a key member of the Young Lionesses team that reached the semifinals of the 2024 Fifa U17 World Cup.

Juniad has yet to make her senior debut for Arsenal but was invited to train with the first team during pre-season preparations and made her unofficial debut off the bench in a friendly against Southampton in August 2024.

She is in contention to make her England U19s debut on Thursday, February 20, when they face the reigning U19 Euro champions, Spain. 

This will be followed by a match against her country of birth, the United States, on February 23, before concluding with a final friendly against the Netherlands on February 26.

Junaid spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before moving to England with her family.

Apart from Junaid, another player of Nigerian descent, West Ham striker  Princess Ademiluyi has been named in the England U19s squad. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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