The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has been working tirelessly to recruit more foreign-born players to represent the country at the senior national level. One of the players that the NFF is keen to have on their list is Dominic Solanke, a striker who currently plays for Bournemouth in the English Premier League.
Despite the club’s struggles to avoid relegation this season, Solanke has had a fairly good season so far, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 24 league games. His form has been one of the few positives for the team, and he has been a consistent presence on the pitch.
Solanke was born in Reading, England, to Nigerian parents. He started his football career at Chelsea, where he rose through the ranks of the club’s youth system. He later moved to Liverpool in 2017 but struggled for game time, leading to a loan spell at Bournemouth, which was later made permanent.
Speaking on a podcast monitored by ON, Solanke revealed that he still has dreams of playing for England in the future. However, he acknowledged that his current form for Bournemouth will be crucial in securing his place in the English squad.
“It’s England for me in the future, but it starts with my form at my club. I know a lot has been said about playing for Nigeria, but no one has contacted me about it. Maybe they will in the future,” he said.
Although Solanke has not been approached by the Nigerian football authorities, the NFF has a history of recruiting foreign-born players to represent the country. Notable players who have pledged their allegiance to Nigeria in the past include Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, and Ola Aina.
The recruitment of foreign-born players has been a topic of debate in Nigerian football circles, with some arguing that it is a way to strengthen the national team, while others believe that it undermines the development of homegrown talent. Nonetheless, the NFF’s drive to recruit more foreign-born players is a clear indication of their ambition to compete at the highest level in world football.
OJB SPORT 