Everton star Ross Barkley was eligible to turn out for the Super Eagles before making his competitive debut for England senior squad in 2013.

Prior to his debut against Moldova in a World Cup qualifier, the Liverpool-born attacking midfielder had announced himself that Nigeria were one of the countries he could have represented apart from England.

Reports have suggested that Barkley's eligibility for Nigeria was through his grandfather but it's much closer than that.

The attacking midfielder has a Nigerian father, Peter Effanga, who resides in Liverpool and worked at the Getrag Ford Transmission plant.

Ross is answering his mother's maiden name Barkley because of a strained relationship with his dad.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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