The Nigeria Football Federation has intensified its bid to lure a Chelsea loanee, Tammy Abraham, who was born in Britain to Nigerian parents to play for his fatherland, Nigeria.
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, has said that he was confident he can persuade the Chelsea hotshot to switch allegiances and join the Super Eagles.
Abraham, 19, has impressed while on loan with Championship side, Bristol City, by scoring 11 goals in 14 games.
The Camberwell-born youngster made his full England Under-21 debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina recently, 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 Abraham could be persuaded 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 NFF 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 recently.
They are desperate to make the finals in 2018 World Cup, with a new crop of players, including Leicester’s Ahmed Musa, Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Watford’s Isaac Success.
