Three players in the Chelsea team and two in the
Manchester City U18s with Nigerian heritage
competed for the youth title on Monday night
By Lolade Adewuyi

At least five players with Nigerian heritage played
in the English FA Youth Cup final on Monday
night, as Chelsea retained their title against
Manchester City, winning 2-1 on the night and 5-2
on aggregate.
Nigeria U20 star Kelechi Iheanacho opened the
scoring for the Citizens before Isaiah Brown and
Tammy Abraham both scored for Chelsea, in front
of owner Roman Abramovich, to seal a well
deserved victory.
While it was Iheanacho’s debut in the
competition, the youth prodigy showed just how
much his talent will be worth to the Flying Eagles
when they travel to New Zealand for the Fifa U20
World Cup next month.
He scored in the sixth minute to reduce the first
leg deficit but City could not hold on.
But the news was that at least four other players
in the starting line up of both teams were of
Nigerian descent.
Dominic Solanke, who has had a stint with the
Chelsea senior side, played a major role in the
Blues’ victory as he made the assist for
Abraham’s winning goal in the second half.
Solanke has represented England at all youth
levels and has also been invited to train with the
senior team.
Other players with Nigerian heritage in the
Chelsea squad include defenders Ola Aina, who
has captained the England U19 side, and Fikayo
Tomori who is still eligible to play for any of
England, Nigeria and Canada.
Alongside Iheanacho in the City squad was
influential defender Tosin Adarabioyo who is
captain of the Citizens.
He is also an English youth international.
The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed
interest in recruiting players with Nigerian heritage
from abroad in order to beef up its international
teams.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick has recently made
efforts at courting Arsenal players Chuba Akpom
and Alex Iwobi.
Nigeria has had some success in the past with
former England youth internationals as Victor
Moses and Shola Ameobi both turned up for the
Super Eagles at the World Cup in Brazil.
Recently, England-born Hope Akpan became a full
Nigeria international.
Perhaps the best news to come from the game is
Iheanacho who, after being on the sidelines
because of injury, is now fit enough to be part of
the Nigeria U20 World Cup squad.

Kelechi Iheanacho scores the opening goal for
City

Chelsea's Dominic Solanke and City's Tosin
Adarabioyo in aerial challenge

Good players for d future of Nigeria football if recruited by d NFF

We don't rili need most of them, we have a lot of talent here in 9ja

NACHO!!!!!!

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