Nigeria vs Netherlands: The Race to Secure Emegha Heats Up
Strasbourg star Emegha caught in national team dilemma as Nigeria intensifies efforts to secure his commitment over the Netherlands.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, is reportedly making a strong push to secure the international future of Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha, as the battle for his allegiance heats up.
The 22-year-old striker, who is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents, has long been on the radar of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Emegha has previously expressed interest in wearing the green and white of the Super Eagles, but his ties to the Netherlands where he was born and has represented the Dutch at various youth levels.
Emegha is coming off an impressive season in Ligue 1, where he scored 14 goals and assisted 3 in 27 appearances, drawing attention from Dutch national team selectors and a senior call-up from the Netherlands is now considered likely.
Still, Nigeria is not giving up. Sources close to the NFF say Eric Chelle has scheduled a meeting with Emegha in France to outline a long-term vision and convince him to commit to Nigeria.
When approached for comment, Emegha’s representatives remained tight-lipped, saying, “It’s not the right time to discuss his future.”
The tug-of-war over Emegha mirrors similar recent battles Nigeria has faced in recruiting dual-national players, with the Super Eagles continuing to build a team capable of challenging on the global stage.
