The star of Liverpool at their pre season tour Rio Ngumoha has opened up on his eligibility to play for the senior national team of Nigeria through his parents who are descents of the African country, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
16 year old Ngumoha has taken the Liverpool pre season games by storm with two goals sandwiched in between performances not expected from a player of his age. He is already seen as a first team player at the club.
“I’m not trying to rush because I’m still only young,” said Ngumoha last week.
“But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club.”
Ngumoha is not actually a Liverpool academy product, having only joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s youth set-up last summer.
At the time Blues legend John Terry wrote “this boy is and will be a top player”.
He’s not looking wrong.
Ngumoha is tipped to be heavily involved next season, and probably earn a step up in the English national team setup from his current role as a player for their U19. He will be 17 by next month.
However he is still eligible to play for Nigeria without a senior national team debut, after speaking glowingly about his Nigerian roots during his days with the Chelsea Academy.
” My father is a Nigerian and I am well grounded on the culture, the food and the music. I also follow the senior national team like everyone associated with the country”, he said while feeding questions on his roots and if he follows the Super Eagles at the AFCON.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
