Nigeria are set to miss out on highly-rated Atalanta teenager Honest Ahanor after the central defender obtained Italian citizenship, making him eligible to represent four-time world champions Gli Azzurri.

Uncapped at international level, Ahanor was born in Aversa to Nigerian parents eighteen years ago. 

After his 18th birthday on February 23, he completed the bureaucratic process to secure Italian citizenship, as reported by Repubblica via Goal.com.

The Genoa academy graduate, despite his evident potential, had previously been unable to represent Italy at youth or senior level due to the absence of an Italian passport. 

Ahanor has always regarded Italy as his home, consistently turning down opportunities to play for Nigeria, and the European giants can now officially count on the talented Nerazzurri player.

He is now eligible for an Italy call-up, and it remains to be seen whether manager Gennaro Gattuso will include him in the squad for the 2026 World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland on March 26.

Ahanor is also in contention for Ital’s U19 and U21 teams, and featuring in either squad this month in European Championship qualifiers would provisionally cap-tie him to his country of birth.

Even if he features for Italy's senior team next week, Ahanor is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles because he is a U21 player.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel