2025 U17 Afcon: Promising midfielder chooses Uganda over former world champions Nigeria, England

Promising Bradfield College midfielder Ethan Oyedele is in line to become provisionally cap-tied to Uganda at the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations.

Oyedele has been included in Uganda's Cubs final squad for the ongoing tournament in Morocco. 

The world's most successful team in Fifa U17 World Cup history with five titles to their name, the Golden Eaglets did not qualify for the U17 Afcon after finishing third at last year's WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ghana,

Oyedele is a tri-national player as he also qualifies to represent Nigeria as well as England, who won the 2017 edition of the Fifa U17 World Cup hosted by India.

This is not the first time the Federation of Uganda Football Associations has made a move to secure the services of an Anglo-Nigerian player.

Reading academy graduate Uche Ikpeazu, who was once on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation and called up to a Nigeria U23 training camp in 2014, has been approached by Uganda and was named in two senior national team squads but has yet to make his debut for the Cranes, meaning he is still there for the taking.

Oyedele was an unused substitute as Uganda suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco in their U17 Afcon opener on Sunday and started on the bench in the ongoing game against Tanzania.

Speaking before the start of the tournament, he said: "I feel very blessed, lucky and excited to be here. I like to first and foremost thank God and thank my family for the opportunity, and I'm very happy to be here.

"The environment is much colder than in Uganda though I am used to that, living in England.

"To all our supporters at home in Uganda, I like to say thank you and ask for your continued support and you keep on supporting the boys as we hopefully win the tournament and qualify for the World Cup."

If Oyedele plays for even one minute at the Africa U17 Cup of Nations, he must file paperwork for a one-time change of association if he decides to play for Nigeria in the future. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com