Recruitment battle Netherlands 3-2 Nigeria: Future Chelsea striker no longer eligible for Super Eagles

The Royal Dutch Football Association have won the recruitment battle for another Dutch-Nigerian forward after beating the Nigeria Football Federation to the services of future Chelsea striker Emanuel Emegha, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Emegha, who has already agreed a move to Chelsea at the end of the season, made his cap-tying appearance for the Netherlands on Friday night in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Poland in Warsaw. 

Drafted into the squad late due to fitness concerns surrounding Ajax forward Wout Weghorst, the Strasbourg captain was handed the number 9 shirt and introduced in the 87th minute as Ronald Koeman's side pushed for a winner, after Memphis Depay had cancelled out Jakub Kamiński's opener.

With the appearance, the 22-year-old is no longer eligible to represent Nigeria, the country where his mother originally hails from.

Before his senior debut, Emegha had featured extensively across Dutch youth levels, including the U15, U19, U20 and U21 teams.

Emegha revealed that he had been approached by the Nigeria Football Federation regarding a potential switch to the Super Eagles, but confirmed that his mind was already made up to continue his international career with the country of his birth.

The Dutch Federation have enjoyed considerable success in recruiting Dutch-Nigerian attackers in recent years.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, Lagos-born Arnaut Danjuma who's currently at Valencia, and now Emegha have all opted for the Oranje despite eligibility for the Super Eagles through their mothers.

Nigeria have also achieved notable recruitment wins, particularly in defence, securing the services of William Troost-Ekong and Tyronne Ebuehi.

Both players are eligible for the Super Eagles through their Nigerian fathers and represented the country at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

Unlike the likes of Morocco, Algeria and Senegal, the Nigeria Football Federation don't have a long-term strategy of courting dual-national players from youth level. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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