Future Chelsea striker on Nigeria's radar handed late call-up to Netherlands squad for WCQs

Through official channels, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed that Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha has received a late call-up to the Netherlands squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures against Poland and Lithuania.

Emegha, who previously played alongside Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye at Sparta Rotterdam, has agreed a deal to join Chelsea at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season.

The Hague-born forward is eligible to represent three nations internationally, the Netherlands by birth, Nigeria through his mother and Togo through his father.

The 22-year-old has been on the radar of the Nigerian Football Federation, with Emegha revealing earlier this year that he had been approached to play for the Super Eagles. 

However, the KNVB has moved swiftly, handing him his first senior call-up four years after he became provisionally cap-tied to the Netherlands by featuring in an U19 European Championship qualifier against Moldova.

Under FIFA regulations, Emegha will no longer be eligible to represent Nigeria or Togo if he participates in the upcoming competitive fixtures in November.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman added the tri-national forward to the roster amid concerns over the fitness of Ajax striker Wout Weghorst, who will undergo a late fitness assessment before the trip to Warsaw.

Emegha is set to join the Netherlands squad in Zeist on Tuesday morning, potentially making a cap-tying appearance this week. 

So far this season, he has registered eight goal involvements in as many appearances for Strasbourg.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: knvb.nl

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