Nigeria’s Super Eagles face the potential loss of two promising young talents as Italy has extended call-ups to Brentford’s Michael Kayode and Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor, NaijaFooty reports.
Over the past year, both players have gained considerable attention in Nigerian football circles due to their standout performances at club level.
Kayode has excelled for Brentford this season, emerging as a pivotal figure in the team. He is admired for his signature long throw-ins, exceptional speed, and ability to contribute in both attack and defense from the right-back position.
Similarly, 18-year-old Honest Ahanor has made a strong impression since his €17 million transfer from Genoa to Atalanta last summer. The young defender boasts technical prowess, physical dominance, and notable pace for his age.
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, Ahanor and Kayode hold dual nationality, which has triggered a tug-of-war between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and their European counterparts. Despite Nigeria’s efforts to recruit the players, Italy appears to be taking the lead in the race.
Ahead of the ongoing international break, the Italian Football Association announced Under-21 team call-ups for both players, with Ahanor initially named by coach Silvio Baldini and Kayode receiving his invitation later. Though this development does not permanently tie them to Italy under FIFA rules, it signals their current leanings toward representing the European nation.
Accepting these call-ups reflects a notable inclination towards Italy, suggesting that both players may be prioritizing opportunities with the footballing powerhouse over their Nigerian heritage for now. Should a senior call-up from Italy eventually materialize, it seems likely that they would seize the chance.
While a future switch to Nigeria remains possible unless they make a competitive senior appearance for Italy, their decision to join the Italian Under-21 setup casts doubts on their allegiance.
For Nigeria, securing the two players might depend on a significant turn in their careers—such as losing favor with Italy—which could make representing Nigeria a more attractive option. Until then, the Super Eagles may be facing an uphill battle in convincing these rising stars to don the green and white jersey.
