Why Former Nigeria Invitee Has Chosen To Play for Canada Over Super Eagles

• Nigeria's effort to unafraid much dual-national stars has suffered a stroke with Owen Goodman's decision
• The young goalkeeper’s begetter has confirmed his lad prefers to play for Canada implicit Nigeria and England
• The 21-year-old erstwhile Nigeria invitee has 18 cleanable sheets successful 37 games for AFC Wimbledon this season

Owen Olamidayo Goodman, the erstwhile Nigeria U20 invitee and standout goalkeeper for AFC Wimbledon, has chosen to correspond Canada implicit Nigeria and England.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper was erstwhile invited by erstwhile Flying Eagles manager Ladan Bosso to the Nigeria U20 squad but missed the accidental owed to logistics issues.

AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Owen Olamidayo Goodman is eligible to correspond Nigeria, Canada, and England astatine elder level. Photo by James Gill
Source: Getty Images

According to The Athletic, Goodman, calved successful England and eligible to play for 3 countries, including Nigeria, Canada, and England, was erstwhile seen arsenic a imaginable semipermanent shot-stopper for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria has continued pursuing dual-national talents, hoping to unafraid a procreation of foreign-born stars to articulation the likes of Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and William Troost-Ekong, who person excelled arsenic foreign-born players successful the nationalist team.

However, successful Goodman’s case, that effort appears to person deed a dormant extremity aft the young goalkeeper enactment an extremity to speculations astir his planetary allegiance.

Family clarifies Goodman’s planetary future

Owen’s father, Phil Goodman, has present officially enactment to remainder immoderate anticipation of the 21-year-old donning the greenish and achromatic of Nigeria successful the future.

Speaking to OwnGoal Nigeria, Phil stated that his lad has already mentally committed to Canada and is moving toward acquiring Canadian citizenship.

“Canada each time long… I deliberation he’s already made the decision. He tells maine helium feels much Canadian than Nigerian,” Phil Goodman said. “His penchant is Canada, but the lone mode that tin hap is if helium gets his citizenship. He wants to go a national anyway, and it gives him a amended accidental of a call-up.”

Goodman’s beardown signifier fuels talks

Currently connected indebtedness from Crystal Palace, Goodman has been successful stellar signifier for AFC Wimbledon successful League One this season.

Owen Goodman has kept 18 cleanable sheets successful 37 games for AFC Wimbledon this season. Photo by Cody Froggatt
Source: Getty Images

The young Nigeria-eligible goalkeeper has kept 18 cleanable sheets successful 37 games, drafting attraction from assorted nationalist teams, including the Super Eagles.

Though helium has been capped by England astatine U20 level, Goodwill remains uncapped astatine elder level, making his planetary aboriginal unfastened to a switch.

Goodman adjacent visited Nigeria's Football Federation office successful June 2023 alongside his mother, gifting NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau a signed jersey successful what galore interpreted arsenic a motion of commitment. That sojourn present seems to person been much ceremonial than strategic.

Missed accidental for Nigeria?

Nigeria’s caller thrust to enlistee foreign-born stars similar Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo, and Semi Ajayi has yielded results.

However, Goodman's determination whitethorn item increasing concerns astir delayed integration and connection gaps successful the recruitment process of these stars into the Super Eagles.

With Goodman apt to go Canada’s adjacent large happening successful goal, this could beryllium a missed gem for Nigeria, particularly arsenic the hunt for Stanley Nwabali’s replacement rages on.

Premier League prima makes bold decision

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy is reportedly reconsidering his planetary future, leaving the doorway unfastened to correspond Nigeria.

Despite earlier suggestions that the 30-year-old guardant turned down an attack from Super Eagles caput manager Eric Chelle, the Newcastle prima is seemingly reconsidering his options.

Murphy was calved successful England to Nigerian parents and has yet to beryllium capped astatine immoderate level by the Three Lions, but is eligible to correspond Nigeria contempt featuring for the England younker teams.

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Source: Legit.ng