Nigeria go all out for foreign-born stars

The Nigeria Football Federation, sports ministry, and head coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr are currently in an all-out search for foreign-born talents to beef up team, according to multiple reports in the country.

The brightest of these mostly young players are reluctant to commit to Nigeria as the eye opportunities with their host countries, but the Nigerian football leadership has launched a global charm offensive in a bid to convince them to adopt the Super Eagles.

The Guardian, quoting an unnamed NFF source, has claimed that Chelsea of England teen forward Dominic Solanke (pictured) would make his debut for the Super Eagles in a friendly match against Senegal in March. The 19-year-old Reading-born star, who has played for England at the U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels, has in the past turned down overtures from Nigeria.

Others being courted include Bournemouth forward Jordon Ibe, former Germany U-20 skipper Kelvin Akpoguma, Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom, Austria junior international Karim Onisowo and Chelsea right-back Ola Aina.

Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo has already turned down a chance to play for the Super Eagles, according to Allnigeriasoccer.com who quote a Team Nigeria UK chief David Doherty as saying: "We have approached Tosin several times to play for Nigeria but I think he is very committed to his England experience now.

However we are hopeful we will get a positive response from him soon as we are monitoring every progress of him, he added of the player whose older brother had turned down a chance to play for the Samson Siasia-led U-23s in 2014.

Doherty also said he has recommended over 25 names to the NFF, including rising forward Ademola Lookman who plays for the third-tier of English football with Charlton Athletic.

We have put down names of those players to the Nigeria Football Federation as potential call ups, over 25 names for now playing well in their various clubs, he told the same website.

But at present Lookman is enjoying and focusing on England call ups, he is at the European U-19s.

Ibe, who had also turned down Nigeria in the past, is now believed to be open to the idea, with the Vanguard recently quoting a source close to the NFF as saying: Jordon is willing to listen to what we have to offer.

We are hoping he finds the project enticing enough to dump England where he is a youth international and play for Nigeria at senior level.

Recently Dutch-born Tyronne Ebuehi, who plays for ADO Den Haag, was called up for the World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Uyo, but the 20-year-old defender turned down the invitation saying he needed to focus on developing his club career first.

There have however been some success stories, most notably the pair of central defenders Leon Balogun, German-born, and Dutch-born William Troost-Ekong, as well as Arsenal of England star Alex Iwobi, who have become key members of the Super Eagles.

Why Rohr is feeling good about World Cup Qualifiers

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says he is feeling good about the Super Eagles chances of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia because the players are desperate for success after failing to qualify for the last two Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Under the German, who was appointed in August, the Super Eagles have found new life. They have won their three competitive games so far, starting with a 1:0 home win over Tanzania in a dead rubber AFCON qualifier in September, and crucially, World Cup qualifying wins over Zambia, who they defeated 1:2 away, and Algeria, who they beat 3:1 at home.

Against the odds the three-time African champions are on pole to win the Group of Death as they lead second-placed Cameroon with four points, with four games still to play.

Also critical is the role of the fans, who have in recent times return in their numbers to support the team, and the former Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso coach is delighted with that.

This is a good feeling because we have had three games. We are happy to start with victories in good games. We are happy the public is coming to have a positive look on the Super Eagles team and we know that it is a long way to go to Russia. Another four games and another 12 points to fight for. We are happy but we are humble. Rohr said in a video post on the Nigeria Football Federation's Twitter page.

The players are hungry because they want to go to the World Cup and they are hungry young players. Many of them do not have titles and they do not have experience in international football. So when you are young, you are always motivated to be successful and I feel this in the team.

To go to Russia for these players is more than a dream. They have missed two AFCONs which is difficult for a big country like Nigeria.

The 63-year-old, who says the win over Tanzania gave the Super Eagles the bounce they needed to turn things around, also gave a view of how he intends to build the team, saying players will now function around a system and philosophy.

What is good now is that the players are changing, but the system and philosophy is remaining. Players can come and go, but the spirit is very important for the future, he added.

Up next for Rohr and his players is a friendly game with Egypt that will involve largely home-based players. The Super Eagles return to competitive action in March when the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying begins