Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle included Al-Ittihad January signing George Ilenikhena in his list of players for the upcoming four team invitational tournament in Turkey, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively report.
Nigeria will take part in a four team tournament in Turkey, Involving Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica. It was originally billed to take place in Jordan but was moved due to the escalation of violence in the Middle East.
Super Eagles won’t be at the world cup, but will use the tournament to begin the second phase of the rebuild of the team under Chelle, who led the team to a third place finish at the AFCON in January.
They will open their campaign at the tournament against Iran on the 27th of March, while Jordan take on Costa Rica in the tournament’s other game.
Ilenikhena who moved to the Saudi Arabia outfit from French Ligue 1 side Monaco was among the players Chelle had in his list, but he requested to be left out. Holding onto his dream of playing for France where he was raised.
He is yet to be given a French passport and hasn’t represented them at any level , but at the age of 19 he is not in a hurry to commit his future to Nigeria.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
