Anglo-Nigerian striker Tammy Abraham would have started the process of his international switch to Nigeria from England where he is a youth international, if not for the intervention of Swansea City coach Paul Clement .
Abraham met with the president of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) at Wembley after Swansea City’s game against Tottenham Hotspur last month and in truth agreed to switch allegiance to Nigeria.
The NFF went ahead to post pictures of the player and president Amaju Pinnick who was quoted as saying they have already applied to FIFA for his switch of allegiance to Nigeria from England .
That piece of information according to one of the aide of the president of the NFF caused panic in England, where Tammy is a youth international and was waiting to be called up to the U21s the next week.
” The moment the story went up on the NFF website, hell was let loose in England, his agent and parents were put under severe pressure by the English football authority, with the player not left out as well “, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” Credit to Tammy, he stood his ground until coach of Swansea City Paul Clement intervened and the player scared of losing his place in the team had no choice but to cave in and release that statement denying Nigeria.
” Since then he has been a regular for Swansea City. We (NFF) have not given up on him because even the player himself later admitted talks are going on. Time will tell”, he concluded.
Osas Mahawi
