NFF Target Named In Chelsea First Team Squad For Post-Season Friendly In United States

Published: May 14, 2019

Nigeria Football Federation target Ike Ugbo has been included in the Chelsea squad for a post-season friendly with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.

The young striker was part of The Blues 23-man squad that touched down in Massachusetts on Monday ahead of the friendly.

Although Ugbo has been inactive for the Chelsea teams, with his last appearance against Swansea City in the Premier League 2 three months ago, he has been pictured training with the first team to maintain his fitness.

The 20-year-old has had spells on loan at Barnsley, MK Dons and most recently Scunthorpe United.

It would be his debut for Chelsea's first team if he is given a run-out by manager Maurizio Sarri at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Wednesday night local time, starting from 2000 hours.

The London-born Ugbo visited the Super Eagles Crowne Plaza Hotel Ealing in March 2018 ahead of a pre-World Cup friendly with Serbia and held positive talks with the Nigerian Federation over committing his international future to Nigeria.

Former United States U20 international of Nigerian descent, Jalil Anibaba is in contention to face Ugbo and his Chelsea teammates in the charity game dubbed "Final Whistle on Hate".

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com