Nigeria expect to get Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi to play for them as soon as possible, as they await word from Fifa over their application for a nationality switch.
The 19-year-old, who plays as a forward and captains the Gunners’ U21s, was born in Lagos but has represented the English youth teams at all levels.
However, he has decided to pitch his international future with the Super Eagles and was invited to the U23 squad but sat in the stands during an All African Games qualifying match against Gabon in Libreville in February....
Fifa rules require that an application be made from the interested association seeking for permission before a player switches his allegiance.
The Nigeria Football Federation is keen for Iwobi’s switch to be complete.
“We have since sent applications to Fifa on the boy’s intention of playing for his fatherland, Nigeria,” NFF general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi told Goal.
“And like what happened in the case of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, it took time before Fifa replied to us that they had been cleared.
“You know that there are processes as regards this. Fifa will thoroughly assess [our application] before clearing the player for us to use.”
On Thursday, Iwobi was included in Arsenal’s 27-man squad for their Barclays Asia Trophy tour to Singapore.
He will hope to break into the Gunners first team this season after impressing in the youth side last term.
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