NFF Plans Scouting Unit For Foreign Stars

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Plans are afoot to set-up a unit within the NFF to scout and recruit foreign-born Nigerian football talent for the Super Eagles, an NFF official has told KickOffNigeria.com.

While blessed with an abundance of home-grown talent, the country has lost a good number of players born to Nigerian parents to other countries.

The likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, David Alaba, Sidney Sam, Oguchi Onyewu, Maurice Edu and Angelo Ogbonna are a few high-profile players who were eligible for the Super Eagles, but are now representing other countries.

Emmanuel Ikpeme, head of the NFF’s Technical Department, says that is about to change.

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“We are aware that there a lot of Nigerians who were born in other countries and are eligible to play for Nigeria, but at the moment, we don’t have any unit dedicated to scouting them,” he said.

“However, we have put a proposal together for the executive committee to set up such a unit.

“It will be composed of not more than two persons, and their job will be to search, identify and try to recruit these players abroad who genuinely want to represent Nigeria.

“They will liaise with Nigerians abroad, and contact these players. Those who want to play for Nigeria will be welcomed. For those who chose not to, we will respect their decision.”

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