Former Super Eagles forward Victor Ikpeba has waxed lyrical about Bukayo Saka and wants the Arsenal youngster to play for the three-time African champions at the international level, reports Completesports.com.
Saka has come in for huge praise this season following a number of impressive performances for the Gunners.
The 18-year-old recently signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates and has since celebrated with a goal and an assist in consecutive games.
Born in Ealing, Saka has Nigerian parents and is therefore eligible to play for the West Africans.
The versatile winger will however have to apply for a change of nationality should he decide to switch allegiance having represented England at youth level.
Read Also: Saka Gets Very Good Ratings In Arsenal Vs Leicester City Draw
He already has four goals in 10 appearances for the England U-19’s.
Following another superb display for Arsenal in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium, Ikpeba, a member of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad is eager to see Saka play for the Super Eagles.
“Watching the Arsenal Vs Leicester City game and I think Gernot Rohr should invite Bukayo Saka to the Super Eagles camp once the paperwork have been concluded,” Ikpeba tweeted.
Super Eagles head Gernot Rohr coach made it clear in an interview with ESPN in June that Saka will need to make the first move, as Nigeria will not come begging for his services.
The likes of Joe Aribo of Rangers, Semi Ajayi of West Brom, Viv Solomon-Otabor of CSKA Sofia, Josh Maja of Bordeaux, and Ola Aina of Torino are all current Nigerian international who were all born in England, specifically London.
Meanwhile, Saka’s former Arsenal team-mate Alex Iwobi and Chelsea’s Victor Moses were born in Nigeria but raised in England and both represented their adopted nation at youth level.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Nff and Rohr should not delay. Please they should approach Him and also meet with his family. Saka will be a blessing to the super eagles if He choose to play for Nigeria. Or they should invite him to the super eagles let him come and watch his team mates maybe other players like Iwobi, Iheanacho, Balogon, Ekong or Ajayi may convince him
We shouldn’t beg him to come and play for SE, RHOR has said it that any player that wants to play for super eagle should give him a signal, with or without Saka, SE can still be great, We lost Tammy but we are still moving on, No player is above the Super eagle,
All these social media hype will make him think that he is ontop of the world and it will also push England Coach to come for him.
Let’s focus on the players we have at the moment pls.
@Vitalis if we must we beg him then we must he is better than Amed Musa and Moses Simon Combined must. He is good enough to be advised, Rather nudged in the direction of Nigeria and if pleading needs to be done then so be it he is that good for now. The only problem is MR AMAJU PINNICK Making it public to the loose lipped Nigerian Media before the player has agreed and then bringing it to England’s knowledge creating a situation where by, even if England was not courting him or looking in his direction yet they will speed up the process and begin doing so just to give him a Cap so, he (SAKA) becomes ineligible to play for Nigeria even England don’t really require his services, I.e Raheem Sterling Etc.. MR AMAJU PINNICK I HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT until the player commits to Nigeria
He will be a great addition to this crop of Super Eagles fine, no doubts, but he sincerely needs to show his level of commitment should an invite be sent to Him.
Vitalis, To approach a player does not means you are begging Him. But to make him know that His country really love him and recognized his talent and are interested in him.
@Elico,Gernot Rohr said it publicly that if Saka wants to play for Nigeria that he has to undergo FIFA clearance and Rohr also said that the door is open to any foreign borne player to come in if he is able to proof him self, I think that is enough signal and approach on our side. It is left for SAKA to choose his path.
Saka was already approached and invited to come and watch our last match before it was cancelled due to covid-19. I think we should not get too emotional about this. The NFF had already shown interest in him. What some are suggesting as “approaching him” is like begging. That hardly works for us. Without a doubt I believe he will be a great addition to our team. And I’m almost sure both Rohr and NFF wants him more than many of us do.
In a report accredited to Rohr, he said he has been in touch with Saka’s agent, enough for Saka to decide if he wants to play for us. I think we need to relax. With the interest already shown, I don’t think we should run after the lad as if we are desperate. What will be will be.
@Debo, God bless you bro. We don’t need to beg Saka to play for Nigeria. We can see the difference between Adarabioyo and Saka.
Saka can follow Abraham footsteps if he wants but in the end, it’s 100% assurance that he’s going to regret his actions like Fashanu and the rest of them did before now.
Saka should be the one begging Nigeria. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
If we must we beg him then we must he is better than Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon Combined must. He is good enough to be advised, Rather nudged in the direction of Nigeria and if pleading needs to be done then so be it he is that good for now. The only problem is MR AMAJU PINNICK Making it public to the loose lipped Nigerian Media before the player has agreed and then bringing it to England’s knowledge creating a situation where by, even if England was not courting him or looking in his direction yet they will speed up the process and begin doing so just to give him a Cap so, he (SAKA) becomes ineligible to play for Nigeria even England don’t really require his services, I.e Raheem Sterling Etc.. MR AMAJU PINNICK I HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT until the player commits to Nigeria
MR PICNIK do u have a big mouth as speculated by the previous writer if yes please make sure u close ur mouth to avoid unnecessary scouting from the english F.A bcos immediately u start opening ur mouth even without saying anythin we might loose this young lad to england PLEASE CLOSE UR MOUTH OKAA
Tammy Abrahams, Fikayo Tomori and Ebere Eze (possibly). Go and look at the mistakes in the courting of these players. If Pinnick didn’t openly say Abraham chose Naija before he actually did. South Gate would not have capped him shortly after. lets face it if England come calling Saka will jump. But if Nigeria don’t make aware our interest of saka public England may delay his debut cap i.e. Raheem Sterling e.t.c. which may lead to frustration on his part paving way for NFF to snap him up it’s our only hope of getting him. however I doubt it, if his current form persists England will come knocking sooner rather than later. anyway point of the matter being if Nigeria want Bukayo Saka we should court him undercover. its our only bet.
We should just relax for now because what will push Saka play for his father is already manifesting in the like of oshimen chukwueze, iwobi and the rest.no more push aside players in Nigeria team …saka is coming to play for Nigeria and I believe iwobi to have done the needful before leaving arsenal even till now….