Cybereagles

Gernot Rohr does not plan on inviting new players for Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, but an England youth international still hopes to switch international allegiance this year

Reading star Ovie Ejaria hopes the process involved in his international switch from England to Nigeria will finally be sorted this year.

Ejaria was born in England and has represented the Three Lions at the youth level, including the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which England won.

However, he is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents and has declared his intention to represent the three-time African champions at the international level.

This was confirmed by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, who said Ejaria has written to FIFA over a possible international switch.

And According to the BBC’s Oluwashina Okeleji, Ejaria hopes to conclude the process this year, making him eligible for selection.

Ejaria is not the only Reading star with a Nigerian connection. Highly-rated youngster Michael Olise was named on standby in the Super Eagles squad that defeated the Benin Republic and Lesotho in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month.

Good for Ovie that he's switching to Nigeria. I think he'll be a very important player for us.

What's with the secrecy around olise? Is he for sure with us or are we just trying a different tactic?

According to the story from "Owngoal"(so please take it with a grain of salt),"France failed with a last ditch attempt to stop Olise from switching to Nigeria"(story from March 16, 2021)
https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2021/03/16/france-fail-with-last-ditch-attempt-to-stop-super-eagles-newboy-olise-from-switching-to-nigeria/

Same "Owngoal" (again take it with a grain of salt) reported that same Olise walked out of a live interview when asked to confirm if he has switched from France to Nigeria(March 22, 2021).
https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2021/03/22/super-eagles-new-boy-olise-walks-out-of-live-interview-when-asked-to-confirm-if-he-has-switched-from-france-to-nigeria/

Whether the story about his (Olise) switch is true or not l can't imagine the NFF had him on a standby without a reason of switched allegiance. It was also reported he was on standby at that time because of his not having a Naija passport. So in between lies the truth or lie or even fantasy!!


Same can be said of Felix Agu (age 21, Werder Bremen) who snubbed Rohr's (when he was still playing for Osnabruck in the second division) approach to pick Germany over the SE and was snubbed by Germany U21 coach for the U21 Euros(after an invitation was extended to him to be part of their national team) .

Cheers

One thing about Olise which isn't reported much is that he is reputed to be a little hotheaded.
I read a couple of reports suggesting it - I think his manager at Reading was talking about an incident a few months ago.

Now that might be a clue. He might be his own man and for his own personal reasons has stuck to his decision to rep Naija much to everyone's surprise, including we Nigerians ourselves. Walking out of an interview, if true, further supports that reputation.

It could work in our favour but could equally work against us.
'Watch this space' is the best we can do for now.

One thing about Olise which isn't reported much is that he is reputed to be a little hotheaded.
I read a couple of reports suggesting it - I think his manager at Reading was talking about an incident a few months ago.

Now that might be a clue. He might be his own man and for his own personal reasons has stuck to his decision to rep Naija much to everyone's surprise, including we Nigerians ourselves. Walking out of an interview, if true, further supports that reputation.

It could work in our favour but could equally work against us.
'Watch this space' is the best we can do for now.

He's exactly the type we need on SE. Hot headed, skillful, confident player that knows what he wants. The polite fumblers like Iwobi haven't worked out too well.

Wetin you dey smoke? So Olise is Playing Naija V Argentina in the World Cup Semi Final, his hothead gets the better of him, gives away a penalty and gets sent of in the last minute. Na that one you like?

Owngoal now claims that NFF could be behind the delay. Im starting to think that the Nigerian factor don cause k leg for these boys. Who could be profiting from the delay?

https://www.owngoalnigeria.com/2021/04/ ... o-nigeria/

I wonder whether the English FA are actually behind the delay.

That would be a pretty screwed up process if the country that is losing out on the player could actually delay their switch. I would think FIFA would be smart enough not to allow that to happen. And there have been other (better) players like Zaha etc who have made the switch without too much of a hitch...But how were you thinking the English FA could delay the process for years?

No idea.
Just going thru the wording of the NFF denial...seems they have very little power in the matter.
Essentially, in any switch, it is the 'releasing' country, FIFA and the player that are the three relevant parties.
I cant really see how the 'receiving' country could sabotage its own efforts.
Pinnick, after all, is well known to be very pro-FB.

So it stands to reason that its unlikely to be Nigeria slowing things down.
But it seems our people are more willing to believe that than the other way round.

Well I believe this is the first time that English media has confirmed the switch of these two, for all of those who were doubting it.

I wonder whether the English FA are actually behind the delay.

I am not yet sold on Ovie. Even of he switches, is he guaranteed a place in the squad?

Here is how I rate Nigerian playmakers at the moment:

[1] Ebere Eze
[2] Alex Iwobi
[3] Michael Olise
[4] Ovie Ejaria

For me, Rohr and Pinnick must get Ebere whatever it takes. No excuses should be tolerated!

In spite of the fact that the kid has pledged his allegiance to the 'tres leones'? Wonder how Rohr and Pinnick can pull this off?

Oh, I know!...Why don't we just hire Mossad contractors to nick him off the streets of Berkshire, put him in a crate and cargo him down to Nigeria (Umaru Dikko style), where he will be forced to play for Nigeria?
Don't know how many times someone has to tell you NO, before it resonates with you.