England will field three Nigerian-born players in the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Argentina from May 20 to June 11, 2023.
The English FA announced the squad that will execute the tournament for the Young Lions ahead of the World Cup, and three Nigerian youngsters who could have played for Nigeria were named to the roster.
Brentford fullback Daniel Oyegoke, Southampton winger Samuel Edozie, and Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka are among the 21 players invited by head coach Ian Foster to the tournament.
Despite the fact that all of these players were born and raised in the United Kingdom, they are all eligible to represent Nigeria because they were born to Nigerian parents.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Oyegoke and Chukwuemeka were part of England’s 2022 European U19 Championship squad. The tournament served as a qualification series for the 2023 Under-23 World Cup.
Edozie played for England’s youth team in a friendly against Chile, scoring a goal, and he also scored a goal in another friendly against Australia.
Aside from the aforementioned Nigerian-born players, other players of Nigerian descent, including Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, Crystal Palace duo Owen Goodman and Malcolm Ebiowei, and Celtic goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi, were not named to the World Cup squad despite having previously played for England’s Under-20 team.
The Young Lions of England will kick off their tournament campaign against Tunisia on May 22. The game begins at 7 p.m. WAT. The Nigerian Flying Eagles will begin their tournament campaign against the Dominican Republic on May 21. The game will also begin at 7 p.m.