The President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has revealed that he is confident he can persuade Chelsea hotshot, Tammy Abraham, to switch allegiances and join the Super Eagles.
Abraham, 19, has impressed on loan with Championship side, Bristol City, this term, scoring 11 goals in 14 games.
The Camberwell-born youngster made his full England Under-21 debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday, scoring twice in a 5-0 win.
But Abraham, who has also represented England Under-18 and Under-19s, remains eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level, through his father, and has previously been sounded out over the possibility of switching sides.
Now Pinnick has spoken of his friendship with Abraham’s father and is confident that the African nation could persuade Abraham to join the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi in a new era for the Super Eagles.
“Tammy is like a son to me,” said Pinnick.
“His dad is my childhood friend, we grew up in Warri. We speak quite often.
“When we are ready, I am sure the Nigerian Football Federation will not have any problem in securing his release.”
Current Premier League youngsters Iheanacho – four goals in six internationals – and Iwobi are already impressing in the Super Eagles senior side.
The duo both played as they got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 win over Zambia on Sunday.
They are desperate to make the finals in 2018, with a new crop of players, including Leicester’s Ahmed Musa, Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Watford’s Isaac Success.
But they’re in a nightmare group, alongside fellow big-hitters Algeria and Cameroon – with only the group winner heading to Russia.
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