The agent of Udinese defender Kingsley Ehizibue has lamented how the issue of dual nationality denied his client the chance to build an international career with Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
His client was called up to the senior national team of Nigeria in 2016 by former coach Gernot Rohr alongside another player with dual nationality in Tyrone Ebuehi, who went ahead to play at the 2021 AFCON for Nigeria and also at the 2018 World Cup.
That wasn’t the case for Ehizibue who was told he isn’t eligible to get a Nigerian passport, despite having Nigerian roots via his parents due to his status as an immigrant in the Netherlands.
He was told he had to renounce his Dutch passport if he wants to get that of Nigeria, something that has now become an issue between Nigeria and the DR Congo who had a host of players with dual nationality playing for them without renouncing their other nationality as contained in this country’s constitution.
DR Congo defeated Nigeria to pick the sole ticket to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoff, where there will be two tickets for the finalists to be at the 2026 World Cup. Nigeria have already challenged the eligibility of the players to play for DR Congo while holding another country’s nationality.
FIFA is expected to make a ruling on the petition next month, but if the words of the agent of 30 year old Udinese defender Ehizibue is anything to go by, then DR Congo will no doubt feel the wrath of FIFA’s hammer.
” I think DR Congo are in trouble because as much as FIFA recognises sporting eligibility, you must also pass the national laws and requirements to be a bonafide passport holder of the country you want to play for”, a representative of EFM revealed.
” Kingsley was born in Germany to Nigerian parents but holds Dutch citizenship. The country recognised dual nationality like we saw with Ebuehi but the manner of his nationality didn’t permit him to have another passport without renouncing his Dutch citizenship. We respected that and his international career went up in smoke”, he stated.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
