The Nigeria national team, Super Eagles is positioning for the big contest ahead, in search of the 2022 World Cup ticket and recent news presents a big win for the African giants who have been a bit average lately. Nigeria are set to take on Ghana in the final round of World Cup qualifiers in Africa after both nations topped their group marches in the qualifiers.
News that every Nigerian fan will love to hear is that Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman, currently serving as a loanee from Leipzig, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles. The former England youth international had an application to switch to Nigeria at the senior level approved by FIFA, which further strengthens Augustine Eguavoen’s side.
This move is part of early preparations for the Ghana clash coming in March and the addition of the 2017 U20 World Cup winner will definitely boost a team already looking stronger than Ghana, judging from the AFCON 2021 performances. Top sports betting website SportyTrader will for sure preview Nigeria among the favorites to clinch World Cup tickets from the CAF region.
Lookman’s switch only follows in the steps of a number of Nigerian internationals who opted to follow that route to better their prospects at the international stage. One such player is Victor Moses, born in England, Moses featured for the England junior teams at U16, U17, U19 and U21 levels before switching to Nigeria. He was part of the Nigeria team that won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, two years after switching and went on to play at the 2014 and 2018 World Cup finals.
Alex Iwobi is another big name that opted for Nigeria after failing to make the cut for the English team. The Everton man comes from the lineage of the great Jay Jay Okocha but was eligible for England, having played for the team at the junior levels. In 2015, he made the switch and a year later he was named the CAF Youth Player of the year. He has since participated in two AFCON competitions and a World Cup, and has 55 caps for Nigeria.
William Troost-Ekong, the man who skippered Nigeria at the 2021 AFCON, was born of a Dutch mother and Nigerian father. He featured for the Dutch youth teams at U19 and U23 levels before switching nationalities. His Nigeria debut came in 2015 and he has so far hit over 50 caps, having also played at the Olympic Games, World Cup and two AFCON tournaments.
Shola Ameobi is another top name to have passed up the chance of representing England, and picked Nigeria. A lethal forward in his heyday, Ameobi formed a great attack partnership with Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer. Ameobi was born in Nigeria but relocated with his parents to England at five years. Between 2000 and 2003 he represented England U20 and after years of waiting for the England call, he switched to Nigeria in 2011 and was part of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
