Nigeria manager hoping Ademola Lookman will switch allegiance

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Oct 27, 2018. 13:00

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has revealed his hope that Everton forward Ademola Lookman will switch his international allegiance from England to Nigeria.

The 21-year-old is currently an England youth international and helped the country win the U-20 World Cup last year.

However, he is eligible to represent Nigeria as his parents hail from the West African country and he has yet to represent England in a competitive match at senior level.

"He plays for the youth now but we hope he can change his mind and play for us [Nigeria]," Rohr told BBC Sport. "He's a player we know can add something to the team.

"Getting a player to change his national choice is not easy, quick and the process is never so straightforward.

"First we must be sure he wants to come. And hope to get it cleared by Fifa.

"Then the most important part is that he brings something new, different and better than we have."

In this regard, Rohr believes Lookman would add to the variety of strikers at his disposal.

"Every coach wants options, we've been lucky to get some players and if we get him, Lookman will give us more options," he continued.

"But we have to be careful about how we go about this because Nigeria have some good players at home and playing outside."

Previously, the Nigeria Football Federation have successfully persuaded former England youth internationals Sone Aluko, Victor Moses, Shola Ameobi, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina to play for the country.