After the Super Eagles missed out on a second successive World Cup qualification, the Nigerian national team needs to cast its eyes forward again. The Nigerian side is blessed with plenty of talent, but there is still huge amounts of untapped potential in players with Nigerian eligibility.
One such case is current England under-21’s player Ethan Nwaneri. Nwaneri is yet to play for the England national team, and remains eligible for a switch to the Super Eagles if he can be persuaded.
The youngster’s performances in France, even in his limited game time, have excited Nigerians fans, and as rumours grow that the Nigerian Football Federation are pursuing him, the excitement is only growing
What lies in store for Ethan Nwaneri’s future?
Nwaneri has recently signed a professional contract at Arsenal that is due to keep him at the club until 2030. This season, he’s been on loan at Marseille in Ligue 1, and is due to return to Arsenal for the start of next season. His performances this season have shown signs of high quality, including 11 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, and 2 goals for Marseille, including one on his debut.
His future no doubt lies with Arsenal, but his current focus remains on Marseille’s season as they fight for a place in the Champions League, which promises to go down to the wire as one point separates them from qualification and failure, with just 6 games to go. GOAL offers a list of the best betting sites with welcome bonuses if you want to bet on Nwaneri and Marseille’s fight for a Champions League place.
Internationally, Nwaneri appeared for England’s under 21s in March, scoring twice in a win over Moldova U21. His talent cannot be called into question, but despite it all, he still seems a distance from a call-up to the England first-team, and it gives the Nigerian Federation an opportunity they cannot ignore.
Who will Ethan Nwaneri choose?
Ultimately, the decision lies with Nwaneri alone. He has publicly acknowledged his Nigerian roots in the press since his move to Marseille, as he is the child of a Nigerian mother and a French father. It makes him eligible for England, Nigeria and France. Nwaneri has signalled in the past that he is open to playing for any of those nations, depending on when he is approached.
With the wealth of talent in the England set-up and with the World Cup this summer, he is unlikely to be selected any time soon. If Nigeria give him a reasonable offer, then the Super Eagles could secure themselves a generational talent for the next decade, and start building towards the next World Cup.
