A new dispensation seems to be on the horizon for Nigerian football as more foreign-born players have pledged their international allegiance to the country.
Barely weeks after Kenneth Otigba of Hereenveen in Holland, who has a Nigerian father and a Hungarian mother, told supersport.com that his desire to wear the colours of Nigeria, another foreign-born player has also sent out a come and get me plea.
Real Madrid Castilla defender, Derik Osede Prieto, born to a Nigerian father and a Spanish mother in Madrid, has been quoted in the Spanish media to be willing to don Nigeria’s colours despite playing for Spain at youth level.
“Playing for Nigeria at senior level will be a great honour. That is my father’s country,” Osede was quoted by Spanish media in an interview recently.
The 22-year-old central defender has spent majority of his career in the Real Madrid youth set up and has come through the ranks to the team B.
He has also played for Spain from under-16 to under-21 levels appearing at the Uefa European Under-19 Championship held in Estonia in 2012 which Spain won.
That Spanish team beat Greece 1-0 in the final with Osede playing the game in a Spanish side that had the likes of Jese of Real Madrid, Paco Alcacer of Valencia and Gerard Deulofeu of Barcelona.
Foreign-born players like Leon Balogun and Steve Ukoh have been recently handed call ups to the Super Eagles.
Source# Supersport#
