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Shola wants to be a Super Eagle
BY Joel Campbell 0 Comments
AMBITIOUS: Ameobi
NEWCASTLE STRIKER Shola Ameobi would jump at the chance to play for Nigeria in next year’s World Cup despite turning down opportunities to represent his country of birth in the past.
Ameobi, 29, said recently that the opportunity to represent England is unlikely to come his way so it would make sense to pursue his ambitions in international football with the African country his was ‘born and bred’ in.
Fifa rules allow Ameobi to play for Nigeria should they decide to pick him despite the fact that the six foot striker played for England at under-21 level.
Talking about what the prospect of playing for Nigeria would mean to him and his parents, Ameobi said: “It was a great honour for me to represent England at Under-21 level and my mum and dad were so proud of me.
“But they would love to see me play for Nigeria. I see myself as Nigerian, I was born and bred there.
“It’s not about changing allegiances. I’ve got Nigerian roots and I’m proud of my country, the country where I was born and spent the first five or six years of my life.
“Playing at the World Cup is the pinnacle of any player’s career. It’s what you dream of and if I can do that with Nigeria then that would be fantastic for me.
“They have been in touch before to see whether I was interested. In the past, I chose not to so I could concentrate on helping Newcastle.
“But I have reached a stage in my career where I would love to play international football and realistically it’s not going to happen with England.
“As I say, Nigeria is the country of my birth and if the coach is open to it then it’s something I would love to do, at the African Nations Cup and the World Cup.”
BY Joel Campbell 0 Comments
AMBITIOUS: Ameobi NEWCASTLE STRIKER Shola Ameobi would jump at the chance to play for Nigeria in next year’s World Cup despite turning down opportunities to represent his country of birth in the past.
Ameobi, 29, said recently that the opportunity to represent England is unlikely to come his way so it would make sense to pursue his ambitions in international football with the African country his was ‘born and bred’ in.
Fifa rules allow Ameobi to play for Nigeria should they decide to pick him despite the fact that the six foot striker played for England at under-21 level.
Talking about what the prospect of playing for Nigeria would mean to him and his parents, Ameobi said: “It was a great honour for me to represent England at Under-21 level and my mum and dad were so proud of me.
“But they would love to see me play for Nigeria. I see myself as Nigerian, I was born and bred there.
“It’s not about changing allegiances. I’ve got Nigerian roots and I’m proud of my country, the country where I was born and spent the first five or six years of my life.
“Playing at the World Cup is the pinnacle of any player’s career. It’s what you dream of and if I can do that with Nigeria then that would be fantastic for me.
“They have been in touch before to see whether I was interested. In the past, I chose not to so I could concentrate on helping Newcastle.
“But I have reached a stage in my career where I would love to play international football and realistically it’s not going to happen with England.
“As I say, Nigeria is the country of my birth and if the coach is open to it then it’s something I would love to do, at the African Nations Cup and the World Cup.”
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