Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman has had his application to change nationality to represent Nigeria instead of England approved by world football governing body, Fifa.
The 24-year-old is thus cleared to feature for the Super Eagles if coach Austin Eguavoen so wishes when they face Ghana in next months two-legged World Cup playoffs.
Fifa’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Emilio Garcia Silveiro conveyed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday.
“The request made by the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation for a change of association of the player Ademola Olajide Lookman is accepted.
“The player Ademola Olajide Lookman is eligible to play for the representative teams of the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect,” read a communique.
In a reaction, NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi said:
“We sent in the application on Wednesday night after putting all the necessary documentation together. We are happy to receive the approval today.”
Lookman was born to Nigerian parents and grew up in Peckham but has not played for England’s senior team.
He featured at various youth levels, notably winning the 2017 U-20 World Cup, where he starred alongside the likes of Dominic Solanke, Kyle Walker-Peters and Dominic Calvert-Lewin..
The former Everton winger returned to the Premier League this season with Leicester City on loan from RB Leipzig. He has three goals in 14 league games so far.
Ademola Lookman follows in Everton winger Alex Iwobi’s footsteps in representing England at youth level before going on to represent Nigeria at senior level.
Nigeria play guests to Ghana at Cape Coast Stadium in the first leg of their World Cup playoffs on March 24 before hosting the return leg in Abuja three days later.
The aggregate winner secures one of Africa’s five tickets for this year’s World Cup scheduled to be hosted by Qatar from November and December.
