Hull City defender, Ola Aina is unlikely to make his international debut for the Super Eagles when they tackle Cameroon in Uyo next Friday because FIFA has not yet approved his one-time switch from England to Nigeria.
The Chelsea loanee has been named in Nigeria’s latest roster, nonetheless, and the Nigeria Football Federation has explained that the former England U19 skipper was called up so that he can familiarize himself with the team.
It would be recalled that Ola Aina’s family friend, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, trained with the Dream Team VI while he was waiting for FIFA to give him the go-ahead to represent Nigeria.
”Ola Aina has been not cleared yet, it is an imminent move, it is something that will happen,” a Nigeria Football Federation staff said.
”It is just for the player to start familiarizing himself with the system pending when he gets his clearance, that’s why he was invited.
”We don’t have natural right backs, we only have utility players or people we convert to play that wing but Ola is a right back.
”While he waits for his FIFA clearance, we want him to mix up with the team and see how things are done in Nigeria. It will the first time in a long while he’ll be in Nigeria.”
It remains unclear if Ola Aina would honour the latest invitation to the Super Eagles, as he skipped the team’s get-together in France in May because FIFA had not approved a one-time change of association.
According to FIFA regulations on international switches, the player wishing to represent a new country must submit a written request to the world governing body seeking to play for another country.
The federation the player wishes to represent must also satisfy conditions including evidence of the player’s link to the country with a passport.
Nigeria lead Group A with six points after two straight wins over Chipolopolo of Zambia and Algeria, while Cameroon occupy second spot with two points from three games. Zambia and Algeria are third and fourth on the log with one point each.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
