Liverpool’s Rio Nghouma Among 5 Foreign-Born Players Backed To Switch Allegiance to Super Eagles
- Fans want Nigeria to rebuild the Super Eagles with foreign-born talents after the Super Eagles’ World Cup struggles
- Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha leads the list of foreign-born players identified as a key target for Nigeria’s future
- Nigeria looks certain to miss back-to-back FIFA World Cup tournaments after struggling in the 2026 qualifiers
Nigeria’s struggles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have ignited calls for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to rebuild the Super Eagles.
The national team has struggled throughout the qualifiers, needing three coaches in eight matches, with superstars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Boniface failing to deliver when it matters.
Source: Getty Images
With the team sitting third in Group C, six points behind leaders South Africa, as seen on FIFA.com, fans are urging the NFF to bring in fresh faces, especially foreign-born players with Nigerian roots, into the team.
Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo, and Lookman are some of the foreign-born players currently in the Super Eagles squad.
5 new foreign-born players Nigeria can rebuild with
Here, Legit.ng takes a look at five young talents who could change the future of the Super Eagles if persuaded to switch allegiance.
1. Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
The 17-year-old forward has been turning heads in England, scoring a dramatic injury-time winner for Liverpool against Newcastle United earlier this season.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Rio Ngumoha is exactly the kind of player the Super Eagles need: young, fearless, and creative in the final third, per the Daily Post.
Getting Ngumoha to commit early could give Nigeria a future star capable of delivering when it matters most.
2. George Ilenikhena (AS Monaco)
At just 18, Ilenikhena is already making waves in Ligue 1.
The AS Monaco striker combines raw pace with excellent finishing, a quality Nigeria has lacked in recent matches. He has represented France at youth level but remains eligible for Nigeria.
Convincing Ilenikhena to choose the Super Eagles would add depth to Nigeria’s attacking options and provide a long-term replacement for ageing strikers.
3. David Odogu (AC Milan)
The AC Milan midfielder is one of the brightest Nigerian prospects in Italy.
His ability to control the tempo of a game and dictate play from midfield could be exactly what Nigeria needs to compete with the best teams in Africa.
Odogu’s composure on the ball and vision in the final third make him a potential midfield general for the future.
4. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Already a record-breaker for Arsenal after becoming the youngest player to feature in a Premier League match, Ethan Nwaneri is a generational talent.
Source: Getty Images
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has a knack for finding space and creating scoring chances.
If the NFF can convince him to choose Nigeria over England, Nwaneri could be the creative spark that elevates the Super Eagles’ attack for years to come.
5. Wisdom Mike (Bayern Munich)
Currently with Bayern Munich’s youth setup, Wisdom Mike is developing under some of the best coaches in Europe.
The versatile midfielder is known for his energy, pressing ability, and eye for goal.
Integrating a player of Mike’s profile would add balance and depth to Nigeria’s midfield.
England loses another star to Nigeria
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that St. Pauli winger Dapo Afolayan has reportedly committed his future to the Super Eagles while awaiting an official invite from coach Eric Chelle.
The Nigeria-eligible Bundesliga talent is reportedly eager to meet with Super Eagles head coach Chelle to discuss the possibility of representing Nigeria.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
