First Player Of Nigerian Descent Born In 2000 To Play In Premier League Gets Ireland Call-Up

Published: March 17, 2018

Southampton wonderkid Michael Obafemi has been invited to the Republic of Ireland U19 national team ahead of the upcoming UEFA European Championship Elite Round qualifiers in Portugal.

Joining him on the 20-man roster announced by Head Coach Tom Mohan on Saturday is Southampton teammate Jonathan Afolabi.

Obafemi became the first Nigerian player born in 2000 to feature in the Premier League after making his first-team debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, January 21, aged 17 years and 199 days.

He visited Nigeria's capital Abuja in June 2015 for a friendly between Team Nigeria UK and the Golden Eaglets.

So far this season, the Irish-born striker has found the net fifteen times for Southampton youth teams, with the highlight of his performance being the hat-trick he bagged against Wolves in the FA Youth Cup back in December.

Obafemi would be hoping to make his full debut for Ireland U19s, having come off the bench against Azerbaijan and Cyprus in his first two games for the age group.

Republic of Ireland face Slovakia, Kosovo and hosts Portugal during the international break.

Igho Kingsley