The Hope of the duo of former England junior international, Victor Moses and Shola Amoebi of playing for their country of birth, Nigeria, at senior level will soon be realised as top officer of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said that all issues concerning their change of nationality will be finalised this month and Siasia will have them available for Super Eagles African Cup of Nations qualifier match against Madagascar on September 4 and Nigeria’s friendly match with Argentina three days later.
The two players have represented England at the U-19 level and would want to switch their nationality to Nigeria to play for Super Eagles at the senior level. According to NFF general secretary, Barrister Musa Amodu, their England counterpart has written to inform them about their plan to free the two players for Nigeria. “We have received two letters in clear and un-ambiguous term from English Football Association (FA) in which they clearly state that they have no objection to Shola Amoebi and Victor Moses’ wish to play for Nigeria. This was one of the things that was lacking in the previous letter they sent to us.
“But now, they have made it absolutely clear that they have no objection whatsoever to any of these players’ wish to represent Nigeria at the senior level. We have forwarded both letters to National Population Commission to show their birth as they were born in Kaduna and Zaria for Nigerian parents and there is no reason whatsoever for them not to represent Nigeria. So, I am so confident that in this month of August, all issues concerning them would be resolved and they will soon play for Nigeria.
Victor Moses was invited for Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations qualifier match with Ethiopia but was made to watch the match from the bench as FIFA was yet to approve his application to switch allegiance to Nigeria after featuring for England at U-17 and U-21 levels.
Coach Samson Siasia who also wanted the two players for upcoming Nigeria’s friendly match with West African rival, Ghana, will now include them in his squad for subsequent matches with Madagascar in an African Cup of Nations qualifier and friendly match against Argentina in September 4 and 6 respectively. Nigeria defeated Argentina 4-1 in an earlier international friendly on June 1 in Abuja.
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