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Sheyi Ojo: England U20 World Cup winner open to representing Nigeria


By Oluwashina Okeleji

Sheyi Ojo helped England beat Venezuela 1-0 in the 2017 Fifa U-20 World Cup final
England Under-20 World Cup winner Sheyi Ojo says he would consider playing for Nigeria at senior international level - if the West African country came calling.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan at French club Reims from Liverpool, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles because his parents are Nigerians.

Under Fifa rules he can switch allegiances because he is yet to play for the senior side.

It's starting to get to the time where I have to start thinking about my future. And of course, if Nigeria were to call me now it would be an honour.


"To be honest, I don't know much about it (Nigeria interest), but if they call me I'd be honoured to go to Nigeria," Ojo told BBC Sport.

"It's obviously a massive nation. I'm just really focused on club football at the moment, but I'm excited for the future, both club and country.

"My parents are originally from Nigeria as well, so they know a lot about it. They've always been keen on the idea [to represent Nigeria] but so far I've mainly been focusing on club football.

"It's starting to get to the time where I have to start thinking about my future. And of course, if Nigeria were to call me now it would be an honour."

Ojo played five matches including the 1-0 win over Venezuela in the 2017 Fifa U-20 World Cup final to help England to their biggest international title since 1966.

Nigeria have previously succeeded in snapping up former England youth internationals like Sone Aluko, Victor Moses, Shola Ameobi, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina for the Super Eagles.

The three-time African champions are also close to persuading Everton striker Ademola Lookman to play for them rather than England.

Sheyi Ojo is currently on loan at Reims in France from parent club Liverpool
Ojo, who joined Liverpool from MK Dons as a youth prospect in 2011, would love to join such an illustrious list.

"Of course, if I was to get selected I'd definitely think about it, I'd never turn down Nigeria," said Ojo.


"I'm from Nigeria originally so it'd be an honour, likewise with England as well. If I keep doing well, opportunities will come by for club and country.

"It's not really something I'm thinking about at the moment but you never know what could happen in the future."

For the moment, Ojo who has one goal in 13 appearances for Liverpool's senior side, is focusing on establishing himself with Reims.

After loan spells with Wigan Athletic, Wolves and, last season, Fulham, where he scored four goals in 24 appearances for the Cottagers, he opted for a challenge outside England to prove himself.

"Obviously, Reims has given me the opportunity to play regular football and I am pretty excited for the season, so hopefully it will be a good one," he added.

"The main aim is to use this as a platform. It's up to the Liverpool manager to give me the opportunities. I feel like so far I've done what I can to get the opportunity, obviously it hasn't come.

"Hence, why I am on loan and hopefully after this loan spell you never know what could happen. Opportunity could arise next season.

"I have some goals of my own, but I'll keep it to myself. Now it's just to help Reims do as well as they can. The main focus is to do well, shine as much as I can. Just to showcase what I can do in France and all around Europe."



https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45619397&ved=2ahUKEwiRwYrTxNHdAhUJ1RoKHUc4DtcQFjAAegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw2TBzq_YObHS0LdZlLKnYNr

TheSuperNerd:
Yeah. Saw that he bagged an assist late on after I quoted you. Well, that's what Sport is about naa. Competition! That is what push players outta their comfort zones. Wishing Kayode the best as he makes his return today.

Off course, he has to fight for a place. That will make him work harder.

TheSuperNerd:
Kayode is in now? Haven't checked after the last update shaa. Was checking on the Basel game now.

Glad he is back. Hopes he settles in quick and continue from where he left off last season for Shahktar.


And yep, it confirms my earlier suspicions. I told you he was injured. So that means in a week time, he will be back. Okay good. Wishing the lad speedy recovery.

He has one Junior Moraes to contend with. He has already scored 7 goals and added another one with an assist today.

BascoVanVeli:
Stephen Odey scores!!! NPFL day baby!!

Let me just keep sipping my drink like.....

I don't think this boy is hype. If he continues like this in the Swiss league then something good might come after him.

TheSuperNerd:
Hey Bia egbon... Kayode dey bench now ooo... He don finally return. Shakhtar is leading 2-0 at this time. Glad to have Larry back

Meanwhile, wetin dey happen to Olayinka @Slavia Prague? I told you maybe it was an Injury the last time. Have you found out now?

How na? Kayode is now on the field of play.

Olayinka is still injured. Will be back on the 30th of this month according to transfermarkt.

Joebie:
A larger percentage of them still say these things and that he is even better than Mbappe.

Na wa for you oooo.

thatigboman:
yes

Thanks

OhiOfIhima:
Yes..only d cancelled poll unit man...

I think d best has been done by d inec.

As d cancelled result is higher dan d margin between d two top runners.

Alright, thanks

Atk1nson:
Not a lawyer but I believe results from cancelled units exceeded the slim difference between both parties. Hence the election from those cancelled units will need to be rerunned before the result can be finalized.

Are those areas not PDP strong holds?

thatigboman:
Cancelled results
Orulu LG , 2 polling units. Registered voters 947
Ife south, 1 polling unit. Registered voters 502
Ife north, 1 polling unit. Registered voters 353
Osogbo, 1 polling unit. Registered voters 884
Total registered voters 3498

Will the re-run election be done in these polling units only?

ChrisKels:
I didnt bother wasting my sub streaming the match because Igbekeme didnt make the match day squad, I guess he was injured. Also Azeez started from the bench

He is injured.

Truidstar:
Iheanacho
Onyekuru
Musa
Ebere Eze
Iwobi
Success
Samuel Kalu
Moses Simon
Lookman

Do we really need a striker?

Of course! Yes.

tbaba1234:
Please forget Ighalo.. He has never produced for Nigeria.

Maybe when Kayode gets fit, he can be given a run.

I don't see Rohr dropping Ighalo any time soon.

BascoVanVeli:
It is on right now but I sure will look for the video.

Alright. Thanks

BascoVanVeli:
Victor Osimhen with the most beautiful goal u will see today.

I call it back heal magic

Can you please post the video?

safarigirl:


Kayode don kick ball this season? Please, no dey call all these funny names. We are looking for active footballers, not rusty ones or the ones wey dey miss net

Who else if no bi u? I don know tey tey before I posted. knor!

tbaba1234:
It is not as if we are overflowing with strikers. Who are the other options?

Ighalo, Kayode, Ujah etc

safarigirl:
Nigerian father, Australian mother.

At 10, she was 6ft tall, she is now 6ft 8"

This is cheating, we can not take this. In Peter Orubebe's voice.

safarigirl:
Nigerian father, Australian mother.

At 10, she was 6ft tall, she is now 6ft 8"

See as dem be like pikin for em side. Aawooo!

cc12:
The giant is Liz Cambage she is 6feet 8 inches tall that is 203 cm, she is of Nigerian heritage through her father.

Nigerian!?

tbaba1234:
It is common for Edo people to bear Yoruba names. It does not mean they speak yoruba or have any yoruba relation.

I am from Edo and one of my names is yoruba but my language is far from yoruba. I do not have any Yoruba relation.

Benin, Itshekiri and many Yoruba monarchs are relations.

Quidquopro:
Obasanjo intentionally left Tinubu.
Williams had already been declared winner in 2003...
We shall know in the coming days if there is Abuja influence or not.
If there is no Abuja influence, why were they 'begging' him?

Ok na. Let us wait and see.

Quidquopro:
Structures change.
Nothing is forever.
The 37 LCDAs are illegal.
Tinubu must tread softly...

Of course, nothing is forever but as it stands, no Abuja influence.

Even OBJ who was an opposition could not do anything, is it now Abuja want to change something when Tinubu is in the ruling party?

Quidquopro:
That was before Lagos politics decided to go Abuja

The die is cast!

Oga! There is nothing like that in Lagos because there is already a structure on ground.

Quidquopro:
Tinubu is a regional force in your enslaved mind.
When Buhari had 100% Tinubu support, what victory margin did it amount to in 2015?
Only Lagos is in Tinubu's grasp and he is about to lose it.
Abuja can't wait!

Who is Abuja in Lagos politics?

Dreambeat:
One man controlling a whole ethnic group.This nonsense can not happen in the part of the country where I come from, not even in a million years to come.If he attempts it, one kid from no where will say to him “ you are rich but are you the one feeding me?” At that point, it becomes case closed.

In a society, there must be an acceptable head. Even Israel had judges that ruled for 30 or more years.

Abdul Ajagun with an assist.

gamaliel9:
Mercie beaucoup...wanted to see where a Nigerian is playing to watch..Thanks

No worries. Cheers

gamaliel9:
Bar Awaziem and all those in Porto b team...How many Nigerians play in Portuguese league and which clubs do they play for?

Snapshot

What else do you expect?

Okonkwo, Osigwe Get Different Strokes In Nigeria Switch

By Editor - September 21, 2018

It has turned into a case of different strokes for two youthful goalkeepers, as Arsenal of England’s Arthur Okonkwo appears closer to getting a call up by Nigeria, but same cannot be said about SC Kriens of Switzerland’s Sebastian Osigwe.


While Osigwe has been rated very low in pulling off a switch from Switzerland to Nigeria at senior level, Okonkwo footablllive.ng gathered that will be a part of the Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations next year.

Okonkwo is already an England under-17 international, but Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are eager to give him an accelerated promotion to under-20 level under Coach Paul Aigbogun.

The Arsenal under-18 team’s first choice in goal has already been officially approached by the NFF over a possible switch of allegiance, which has been backed by Aigbogun, who is British citizen.

However, while Oknokwo is now expected to give his consent to the NFF’s offer before this year runs out, Osigwe is not any closer to a call up to the Super Eagles, than he was when he made his intentions known before the World Cup.



Although Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr earlier declared that he is ready to invitee Osigwe, latest feelers indicate that he youngster will not be part of Nigeria’s immediate plans in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The former Flying Eagles invitee has kept goal in the six games his team have played so far in the Swiss second division this term, and are currently in 7th position, but he does not have a single clean sheet to his name and is not under consideration for the Eagles.

However, it was gathered that Rohr is keeping options open in the future for the Switzerland-born goalkeeper, who was in top form for Kriens in helping them get promotion to the second division.

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/955381483?-21310:11479:3

I think Ambode should not be allowed to go for second term because it's getting clearly that the cabal wants to use Ambode against Tinubu after the election else what is their desperation all about. A sinister to finish him after the election by getting grip of Lagos.

Buhari should face his presidency ambition and let go of SW politics.

Ambode should test his popularity. No more handpicking. EOD