English Player Dumps-Denmark-for-Nigeria
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has contacted 22-year-old English player who plays for Bournemouth to dump Denmark for Nigeria, the midfielder Philip Billing was approached before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria but the 23-year-old English player did not say anything.
Philip Billing has been one of Huddersfield Town’s standout players this season in the English Premier League side and has featured in all almost all their games before the lockdown due to coronavirus. The highly-rated 23-year-old English player is eligible to represent the Super Eagles by his parentage roots. He was born in Denmark and has already featured for the Danish U-19 and U-21 teams.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has done well since joining giving his appointment letter as Nigeria’s head coach, he has been able to convince some player with dual citizenship to play for Nigeria. The English player Philip Billing who could switch nationality to Nigeria, said he wants to be sure of playing time before pledging his allegiance to the three-time African champions.
Since Rohr took charge of the Super Eagles in 2016, the Franco-German coach has lured three players of dual nationality to play for Nigeria. The players include Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi and Bryan Idowu. “One of my assistants leaving in England saw him (Billing) and spoke with him,” Rohr told only CSN in Lagos on Monday.
“There was a good contact but also we feel we have to be very cautious because the English Federation does not want to lose these players, we have to understand that also. “The players have been formed and their academy work was done there (England) – the entire job done there. Now when the player is adult he says goodbye – I go with Nigeria. Not all those cases are pleasant. We have lots of cases like that in France with lots of Algerian players.”
“Lots of players l grew up in France and then they go to Algeria. It’s not easy to accept that. “But they must really be motivated and excited to come with us. we will not push.” “We can find players in the midfield, attack and in defence as well.”