The recent declaration by former England youth international Chuba Akpom regarding his switch of allegiance to Nigeria has been met with mixed emotions from followers of the senior national team of Nigeria.
Akpom played 41 times for England at various youth level but the ‎forward who is now at Greek side PAOK failed to make the step up to the senior team and many suggested that was why he finally decided to represent Nigeria.
Reacting to statements that he decided on playing for Nigeria due to the fact that he stood no chance with the senior national team of England, the player’s representative said it’s a misconception of fact as at no time did he decline an invitation to be part of the senior national team of Nigeria.
He said, Akpom was approached for the first time by Gernot Rohr but because of players who were ahead of him back then he wasn’t called up after training with the Super Eagles two years ago during their training camp in England.
” It’s unfair to say Akpom wants to play for Nigeria because he stand no chance of playing for the senior national team of England. That’s not true because at no time was he approached before the coming of Rohr as coach, he trained with the team in London but then Rohr had other players ahead of him”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” Akpom didn’t have a settled club career until he moved to Greece where it took him a while to find his feet. Now that he is doing well Nigeria want him and he is very excited to link up with the team. Alex Iwobi is his childhood friend, so playing with him for Nigeria is similar to a childhood dream coming to pass for both of them”, he remarked.
