At least five players with Nigerian heritage played in the English FA Youth Cup final on Monday night, as Chelsea retained their title against Manchester City, winning 2-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.
Nigeria U20 star Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring for the Citizens before Isaiah Brown and Tammy Abraham both scored for Chelsea, in front of owner Roman Abramovich, to seal a well deserved victory.
While it was Iheanacho’s debut in the competition, the youth prodigy showed just how much his talent will be worth to the Flying Eagles when they travel to New Zealand for the Fifa U20 World Cup next month.
He scored in the sixth minute to reduce the first leg deficit but City could not hold on.
But the news was that at least four other players in the starting line up of both teams were of Nigerian descent.
Dominic Solanke, who has had a stint with the Chelsea senior side, played a major role in the Blues’ victory as he made the assist for Abraham’s winning goal in the second half.
Solanke has represented England at all youth levels and has also been invited to train with the senior team.
Other players with Nigerian heritage in the Chelsea squad include defenders Ola Aina, who has captained the England U19 side, and Fikayo Tomori who is still eligible to play for any of England, Nigeria and Canada.
Alongside Iheanacho in the City squad was influential defender Tosin Adarabioyo who is captain of the Citizens.
He is also an English youth international.
The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed interest in recruiting players with Nigerian heritage from abroad in order to beef up its international teams.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick has recently made efforts at courting Arsenal players Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi.
Nigeria has had some success in the past with former England youth internationals as Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi both turned up for the Super Eagles at the World Cup in Brazil.
Recently, England-born Hope Akpan became a full Nigeria international.
Perhaps the best news to come from the game is Iheanacho who, after being on the sidelines because of injury, is now fit enough to be part of the Nigeria U20 World Cup squad.
Source# Goal.com#
