Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says he wants to persuade Bordeaux’s English-born forward Josh Maja to play for international football for Nigeria.
The former Sunderland and Fulham forward is eligible to feature for the Super Eagles, after being born to Nigerian parents.
Maja scored 15 goals in 24 appearance for the Black Cats in League One last season, before earning the switch to France to play for the Ligue 1 outfit.
The 20-year-old has so far scored just twice in 10 appearances for Bordeaux, but Rohr is keen to persuade him to play for the country of his ancestry.
Related: Bordeaux Hit By Maja Injury Blow
“I ate with Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja, who is a second Nigerian in Bordeaux and is eligible for Nigeria. I already started talking with him about the national team,” Rohr told Le Point G in France.
“He can easily play in the friendly matches (for Nigeria), but he can only do it because he has not played for the under-20’s.”
Maja would not have to make an application to Fifa to play for Nigeria, as he has never represented another nation at youth level.
Nigeria have a friendly against Ukraine coming up which serves as a warm up match to the start of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying stage. Despite having already named his squad for that match, Rohr is hopeful Maja will be able to join up if he declares himself available.
“We have a game in Ukraine, and I’ve been informed that it might be too late to get visas for players who do not have a European passport,” said Rohr.
“But he [Maja] does not have this issue because he is English, so he could eventually join us. It is very possible that I pick him to go to Ukraine.”
6 Comments
Good one from Rohr, his good work is highly commendable but especially when it comes to team management. The super eagles looks very enticing with the crop of young players in the team and also those who re yet to be capped or cleared to play for us.
The inclusion of aribo and the future integration of the likes of lookman, ejaria, Maja, Eze, uduokhai, tomori, Kingsley Michael, Okereke just to mention a few will strengthen the team with more quality and options.
It’s been a long while the eagles looked this promising and I am very sure that in due time the accolades and trophies will start coming in.
Get them in. Sit down look, is a dog’s name. We LL be looking while bulldogs like England, Germany, Belgium snatch these guys off our hands.
I have been reading comments from both Southgate n Lampard about Tammy’s snub from 3 lions. These guys have been quite honest albeit one need to read in between lines, that Tammy shouldn’t waste his time waiting for England call up. But it’s kinda laughable, Tammy isn’t getting the message. They could easily have told him point blank to go with Nigeria but for fear of being labelled racist..
dont no why u all really want that dude for real theres more better players waiting for a call up..ojo is waiting for a call up and no one is really talking about blessing eleke that dude is gooooood yo
For now, I don’t have much to say concerning Super Eagles and coach Rohr but that doesn’t mean I won’t talk. Oga Rohr can invite whoever he likes. That match will determine his position, that is for sure.
After the upcoming friendly match in October then, I will have my say.
God bless Nigeria!!!
Some one like you should be totally BANNED from this place. Do you really believe that what ever you say or not say have any impact. Get a life.