On loan Napoli midfielder Micheal Folorunsho who was handed his first call up to the senior national team of Italy could have represented Nigeria at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Folorunsho has been revelation for Verona where he is on loan from the League champions. At international level he is eligible for Nigeria through his parents even though he was born in Italy. He is yet to capped by any of the countries.
Last week he was handed his first call up to the senior national team of Italy by coach Luciano Spalleti on the back of his performances this season, where he has four goals from 27 matches this season.
According to a representative of the 26 year old he could easily have represented Nigeria at the AFCON, if not for the attitude of the former coach of the team Jose Peseiro.
” Folorunsho was keen on playing at the AFCON and I tried to make it happen by texting the coach, he didn’t reply. When I called he picked and I introduced myself as a representative of Folorunsho and after a brief chat he promised to get back to me”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” Days went by and I called him but he didn’t pick and didn’t return my calls. It was two weeks later that the list of Nigeria for the tournament was made public. That’s how we got to where we are at the moment”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman