Izuchukwu OkosiLeicester City forward Ademola Lookman is still available to play for Nigeria despite the seeming delay in getting his international clearance sorted out by the Federation of International Football, FIFA.
Lookman whose parents are from the South west Nigeria was born in the UK but elected to represent his parents’ nation at international football.
The Nigeria Football Federation has clarified that England-born forward, Ademola Lookman is yet to be cleared by FIFA to play for Nigeria, and that the process for his switch is ongoing.
NFF disclosed this in a statement released by the Communications Department.
The NFF disclosed that Lookman was included in the initial Super Eagles provisional list for the 2021 AFCON, believing that the process of his switch would have been finalized before the tournament kicks off.
Mainwhile, NFF also debunked reports making the rounds that interim coach Austin Eguavoen was the one who removed Lookman’s name from the final 28-man squad.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has stated categorically that Ademola Lookman of Leicester City FC of England has not yet been cleared by World Football body, Fifa to represent Nigeria at International level. The process for his switch is ongoing,” read a statement from NFF.
“It is therefore incorrect for any medium to claim that interim Head Coach, Austin Eguavoen is the one who axed the player from Nigeria’s final list of 28 for the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.
“However, his name was included in the initial provisional list with the belief that the process would have been completed before the commencement of Afcon.”
Born in England, Lookman is eligible to represent Nigeria through his parents, and the 24-year-old has played for England at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels.
Lookman is currently on loan to Leicester City from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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