Nigeria
football officials have made an appeal to Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe
to switch international allegiance to the Super Eagles with new coach
Sunday Oliseh travelling to Melwood to meet the player. The Guardian of London and the Liverpool ECHO published reports of the meeting.
Ibe joined Liverpool after making his
debut for Wycombe Wanderers at the age of 15 and last season he broke
into Brendan Rodgers’ senior side after impressing on loan at Derby
County.
Bermondsey-born Ibe has represented
England at under-18, 19 and 20 levels but is eligible to play for
Nigeria as his dad David is from Nigeria. Oliseh has also met separately
with Victor Moses and other Nigerians in England.
However,
the British media suggest that while being flattered by the meeting
with Oliseh and Nigeria’s desire to get him on board, Ibe is still
hoping to launch an international career with England. Oliseh, on his
part, has made it clear that he wants Ibe to switch.
He spoke to Ibe personally at Melwood to
outline his ideas for the national team and it will be interesting to
see whether or not he is successful.
The Guardian’s report does add
that the FA are now considering bringing Ibe’s England debut forward in
order to ensure he doesn’t switch to Nigeria.
The Liverpool striker is expected to be
named in Gareth Southgate’s England U-21 squad for next month’s matches
against USA and Norway.
He could still change his mind until he
has played a competitive fixture for the senior side but considering his
progress with Liverpool it’s unlikely to be long before Roy Hodgson
calls upon him.
Ibe has been Liverpool’s standout
performer in pre-season and is expected to start in Sunday’s Premier
League opener at Stoke City.
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