The list of players called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming Unity Cup and friendly game against Russia has been made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Werder Bremen defender Felix Agu was handed a first time call up to ten team for both engagements, but with an attached statement that he will only train and not play for the team.
Just like we reported on the 7th of May. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is demanding that world football governing body FIFA issue then a clearance before he will become eligible to play for the team.
Despite the fact that he can’t be tied to the German team as he only played in age grade friendly games for their U21. The NFF insist that they still will need a written clearance from FIFA before he plays for the Super Eagles.
A source said the situation is similar to that of Alex Iwobi before his senior debut for Nigeria, with FIFA sending a clearance despite the fact that he played for England U19 in a friendly game.
Agu is seen by the new coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle as someone who can help provide options in the full back positions owing to his performances in the Bundesliga for Werder Bremen this season.
Courted by former coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr in 2019, he turned down the approach and accepted an invitation to play for Germany U21, and played in two friendly games against Greece and Spain respectively.
At 25 he has now pledged his international future to Nigeria after speaking with Chelle, who insisted on including him as a part of the team for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament in England where they will up against Ghana on the 28th of May, before taking either of Trinidad and Tobago or Jamaica four days later.
He will also be a part of the team for the friendly game against Russia next month, and the hope is that his clearance would have come through before the resumption of games in the world cup qualifiers.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman