The president of the Nigeria Football Federation has claimed Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has decided to switch international allegiances and represent Nigeria in favour of England ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
The 19-year-old striker featured for England’s U21s at the European Championships this summer, but remains eligible for Nigeria due to his father’s nationality.
Nigeria president Amaju Pinnick is a close friend of Abraham’s father and has now revealed he has been successful in convincing the teenager to play for Nigeria.
“I had a very honest and productive discussion with Tammy and his father last week,” The Daily Mail quote Pinnick as saying. “It’s been a long process but I can tell you authoritatively that he has agreed to play for Nigeria and not England.
“He and his parents have started the necessary documents to effect the switch. Clearly he understands he stands a better chance of playing for the Super Eagles. With his talent he has the ability to fight for a place in the Nigeria squad, by God’s grace we make it to Russia, then he would contest for a chance to represent his fatherland.”
Abraham is currently on a season-long loan deal with Swansea in a bid to get more first-team opportunities after thriving in the Championship for Bristol City last season.
The teenager has only netted one goal in five Premier League appearances so far this season, having scored 23 times in 41 appearances in England’s second tier last term.
In fact, all 24 league goals scored since the start of lsat season have come from inside the penalty area.
