Though European-born Nigerians have in the
past starred for the national team but the
desperation to lure foreign born Nigerians
who have played for their country of birth at
the underage competitions to don the colours
of the national team by the football
federation has been heightened of recent.
The latest name on the card of the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) is Liverpool starlet,
Jordon Femi Ibe, who has already represented
England at Under-18, 19 and 20 levels since
2012. Kunle Adewale in this report asks if
this is an admission that the local league is
no longer viable to produce players for the
country's national teams
During Nigeria's botched attempt at playing
in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, only two
players -John Chidioze and Tunji Banjo, were
not based in Nigeria and were in the team
that played through the qualifiers. At the
1994 Mundial qualifiers, Reuben Agboola was
the only foreign born Nigerian among the
gang, but eventually could not make it to the
competition proper because of the quality of
players on parade- players that cut their
teeth from the local league.
However, the reverse is the case now. At the
mention of a player with Nigerian parenthood
anywhere in the world the next thing in the
agenda of the federation and the coaches in
charge of the national teams is to try to
convince the player to dump the country of
his birth and play for Nigeria without
considering if his style of play suits that of
the national team and the names are
endless, with the latest being Liverpool
winger, Jordon Femi Ibe.
The latest move by the NFF is opening talks
to convince Ibe, who has already represented
England at Under-18, 19 and 20 levels since
2012 to play for the country's national team.
A member of the NFF Technical and
Development Committee, Victor Ikpeba,
revealed that the football federation was
mulling offering Ibe a full international career
and the former Nigerian international,
explained why he believed that Ibe would be
a good addition to the national team.
"The federation is looking at Jordon Ibe. We
need to change our philosophy and bring in
these young players to help out especially
after we missed out of the Africa Cup of
Nations," Ikpeba revealed on SuperSport TV
magazine programme, Monday Night
Football.
Out-of-contract Super Eagles Manager,
Stephen Keshi revealed of his interest in Ibe.
But he has never seen him play. He promised
to follow up on the development of the
teenager. "I've been told he is a very good
prospect with potentials to becoming one of
the best wingers in the world. I have not had
time to watch him in any of his club's games
but definitely I will do so this season," Keshi
said.
But the NFF will have to show intensity and
passion in luring the teenager from under the
noses of the England FA if the recent words
of his Liverpool teammate and close friend,
Daniel Sturridge, are to be considered.
"Go follow Jordon Ibe. He is the future of LFC
and England," Sturridge stated on Twitter.
On his part, Raheem Sterling hailed Jordon
Ibe's "massive" development in recent months
and urged the youngster to keep grabbing his
chance.
"Jordon has gone way to Derby and done
really well, scored goals and added goals and
assists to his game. That's the most
important thing for a player in his position;
that's what people are going to judge you on.
It's really pleasing to see that he has gone
away, matured his game and come back to
do really well. He could have had a goal
against Everton but hit the post. His
development over the last few months has
been massive; hopefully he can continue that
and be a really important player for the
team," Sterling said.
Ibe is still eligible to play for the Super
Eagles by virtue of his Nigerian parents, and
having yet to be capped by England at senior
level.
But for former Nigerian international,
Ademola Adesina, NFF and national team
coaches should concentrate on home-grown
footballers rather than seek nationality for
some Nigerian footballers outside the
country.
"I support the use of home-grown players in
the national team. There is nothing strange
about it and if we continue judging the boys
by the standard of our own league, we are
making a great mistake. The coaches should
utilise the advantage of working regularly
with the players at home, and with frequent
training they would bring the best out of
them.
"I did not play abroad before becoming stars
in the Eagles and I am surprised that Nigeria
is suddenly relying on players who are either
not playing regularly in their clubs or play in
very small clubs and non-competitive
leagues, just because they play outside
Nigeria. The home-based players can take
our football to where it rightly belongs. I'm
not saying we don't need the foreign-based
players but they should not be the bedrock of
the national team," Adesina noted.
Recalled early from his loan spell with Derby
County this season, Ibe has already
impressed with a clutch of displays for
Brendan Rodgers' side, and the Reds
manager should keep faith in his blossoming
young talent.
After 20 Championship appearances with the
Rams, Ibe has returned to feature briefly
against Aston Villa and West Ham United,
before full appearances against Everton and
Tottenham Hotspur.
After a fruitful loan spell with Birmingham
City last season, another temporary spell at
the iPro Stadium was sanctioned in August,
with a view to continuing his development
under a fine-tuned manager in Steve
McLaren.
Ibe initially struggled to break into McLaren's
first team, but went on to make 20
appearances in the Championship, typically
on the left-hand side of the Rams' 4-3-3. At
Derby, Ibe scored five league goals, including
a sensational solo effort against Birmingham
in December.
Impressed with the progress Ibe had made
under McLaren, Rodgers cut short the
winger's loan in mid-January. Ibe swiftly
came into Rodgers' side with cameo
appearances in wins over Villa and West
Ham, after which the manager underlined his
importance to the side, via Liverpool Echo.
"I think he's ready now. I brought him back
because with the set-up of the team there
are more opportunities for him to play now.
He can play in maybe four positions,"
Rodgers said.
While Ibe had previously shown versatility
with appearances on either attacking flank,
Rodgers saw fit to include him as a surprise
replacement for a resting Lazar Markovic in
the right wing-back role, and the 19-year-old
excelled.
"Ibe will be huge for us in the coming years,"
Rogers admitted.
That Ibe has slotted in so comfortably into
Rodgers' side this season is a testament not
only to his quality, but the shared nature of
the squad as a whole.
In several cases, the processes may take up
to six months before he can be cleared, while
the effort could be futile if England also
extends an invitation to him to play for the
main national team.
Nigeria has successfully cleared Victor Moses
and Shola Ameobi, who had already
represented England at youth levels for the
Super Eagles. But similar effort made to
convince German-born Sydney Sam to switch
allegiance failed as the player eventually
preferred Germany to Nigeria.
There is no doubt that the length at which
the federation goes at convincing players
born of Nigerian parents to swtch allegiance
after representing their country of birth at
underage level goes to show how much
distrust the NFF and national team coaches
have in the local league.
Born in Bermondsey, South London on
December 8 as Jordon Ashley Femi Ibe , he
signed for the Wycombe Wanderers youth
team in 2007 at the age of 12, following his
release from the Charlton Athletic youth
team. He came up through the youth system
at Wycombe, and made his first team debut
at the age of 15.
On October 24, 2012, Ibe made his national
team debut at U-18, playing 69 minutes in a
2-0 win against Italy. Source thisday
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