Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has hinted that Nigerian striker Adam Idah may be called up for a full international cap ahead of the crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia.
McCarthy’s comment is in reaction to Idah’s hat-trick for Norwich in their 4-2 away win against Preston North End, in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
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Idah, who shone for Ireland Under-21 side in 2019, scored his first goal after just one minute of play.
He added a second 18 minutes later, coolly chipping the ball into the net from 35 yards after the Preston goalkeeper had raced out of his penalty area only to lash his clearance straight at Idah
The 18-year-old would complete his hat-trick in the second half from the penalty spot.
Ireland gaffer McCarthy who was on punditry for BT Sport during the game, hinted that Idah had given him something to think about, stressing the fact the hat-trick arrived in a senior FA Cup game – and not an under-21 or an under-23 match.
“He might have just got himself one (a senior Ireland international cap)!
“He’s just scored a hat-trick. And he’s playing in a real, competitive game. Not an under-21s, not an under-23s. It’s an FA Cup tie against a good Preston team.”
Norwich manager Daniel Farke had labelled Idah a “natural born goalscorer” on the eve of the FA Cup clash with Preston.
Idah made his Premier League debut with a cameo appearance against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Born of a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, Idah is eligible to play for Nigeria as he is yet to feature for Ireland in a senior competitive game.
11 Comments
Our scouting team only looking for ready made because that fetches quick money n again save them from stress of investing on such players. Reason we will continue to lose brilliant talents like Ndah, Dele Alli, Noah Okafor etc. We were just lucky to get Ariball Aribo. Same reason talents are being wasted on the local scene. No proper investment to develop them to highest standards. Selfishness so rife everywhere. Wetin we go chop mentality.
I’ve been reading about this Ndah guy on allnigeriasoccer for almost 3 years now. Those guys are good at unearthing 15, 16, 17 year old Nigerian talents all over Europe. So many of them including Noah Okafor ,Author Okonkwo, Joe Aribo, Ike Ogbu, Tammy Abraham and others (whom that chronic lair omo9ja claims he discovered) are constant features on that site since their early teens (some as early as when they are 14yrs old).
But long throat NFF and local coaches will not invite them bcos of their local academy products they want to sell (typical cases of David Alaba, Fatai Alashe, Fred onyedinma, Malcolm Ebiowei are still fresh in mind).
When this guys now hit it big time by the time they are 19, 20 yrs old, Pinnick will now turn to National team coach and Chief scout put together and start running after his children’s mates all over the place and begging them for selfies all in the name of luring them to play for Nigeria.
There are still many others that are a constant feature on that site..Leyton Ndukwe (LCFC), Luke Amos (Tottenham), Tim Enyomah and tons of others…if the NFF likes they shouldn’t start approaching them now. They should be waiting for their agents to come and hand their economic rights to them b4 getting callups so they can reap from where they did not sow. When the kids now burst into the limelight and start choosing options, the whole of NFF secretariat will now relocate to Europe to become beggers.
WETIN WE GO CHOP mentality is the bane of our existence. Destroying everything in Nigeria, not only sports.
NFF better go for him before Ireland Does…. We need him ASAP.
Really…?! Just like that…?!
Did you read the part of the report that says
“…Idah, who shone for Ireland Under-21 side in 2019…”
The kid is a youth international for Ireland already and has featured for their U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21 teams in competitive matches. The NFF shouldn’t bother wasting their time on this one….not now that he’s already in the limelight with that 5 star performance in the FA cup.
If at all he will make the mistake of thinking about playing for Nigeria, it will still take another 6 – 12 months to process an international switch…whereas an opportunity to play for Ireland is coming as early as in march.
This one is beyond reach now. We lost him when we didn’t approach him when he was still 15 or 16yrs old 2 or 3 years ago.
But we have several grades where these guys CA feature
Whatever happened to our u23 and u20
Just negodi, the football Olympic gold had Nigeria written all over it. I can’t stop counting how many under 23 aged players that would have done us proud by resting the atlanta96 story.
This one and much others would have been begging to play a part.
Hehehehehe….so are we in the olympics now…? LMAO
Dr. Drey nwa nna, we missed big time in this 2020 Olympic football event.
Our players and these new boys are all within the age bracket to represent.
We could readily build a formidable eagles team A2 (team A being the main super eagles) from players who are yet to get the call up or oppotunity to play when called up (simply because the position they play is currently occupied by a player in top form)
Pinick should have seen this opportunity to feature these boys born and breed in other countries at the olympic (he wouldnt need to beg them) because they are red hot at the moment.
Imagine GR being in charge of this team, transition from team A to A2 will be an easy flow.
Dr.Drey, take it to the bank, there would have been the eagles of the decade if only Nigeria made it through to 2020 Olympic football event.
I quite share your sentiments… but unfortunately. We didn’t make it to the olympics. That is the bottom line. There’s no need crying over spilt milk. We just need to forge ahead and look into the future with optimism. Doing what is right, when it is right and with the right personel will help our future causes. Pray one day our FA will be field with right thinking people….bcos this present FA is just a combination of wannabes, outrightly ignorant and chop-I-chop bunch.
Nigeria boost of the best talent scattered all over the world and our u20 and u23 teams are underperforming .thjs year 2020 nff should play get better coaches to harness our talents and unite them