By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Tomorrow, Friday, March 14, 2005 is a sure decision day, for top football Administrators in Nigeria, and lovers of the round leather game in England; as Thomas Tuchel makes his very first squad announcement, as Head Coach of the Three Lions of England.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) recently revealed that it has in conjunction with the hierarchy of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) set in motion a mercenary that will help convince Arsenal youngster, Ethan Nwaneri to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria and the super Eagles.
Nwaneri who has been a sort of revelation for the Gunners this season, is only 17 years old, and has played at the Cadet Under 15 and Under 16 levels for England; and talk by pundits in the English media have openly canvassed that Nwaneri be capped at the senior level for England, his country of Birth.
The youngster, who is winger and can fit into a playmakers role, and has got a knack of scoring goals is qualified to play for the Super Eagles via his Nigerian Parents, who are from Imo State.
While some Nigerians wait anxiously to see where the pendulum swings to, many believe Nwaneri would be moved to emulate the like of Ademola Lookman who shunned the three Lions of England, and has now grown to become the reigning African Footballer of the Year.
But others are cautious that Nwaneri, who has been described as an exceptional talent, could take the part of another Arsenal player, and product of Halle End, Bukayo Saka who opted to represent England, when expectations were high that he would commit to playing for Nigeria.
In all, Nwaneri who made his Premier League bow at just 15 years, has scored eight goals this season, with three of those goals coming in the Premier League:
He scored a brace against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup, helping Arsenal win it 5-1; and in the Premier League, he scored his first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win for the Gooners, at the Emirates Stadium.
He netted his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 2-1 away win over Girona, in Spain; and also scored in a 5-1 trouncing of Manchester City in the league, by curling in a stoppage-time strike from just outside the penalty box, at the Emirates Stadium.
