Republic Of Ireland Planning To Cap-Tie Norwich City's Nigeria-Eligible Super Kid In March

Published: January 05, 2020

The Football Association of Ireland are planning to cap-tie Norwich City's Nigeria-eligible striker Adam Idah during the first international break of 2020, manager Mick McCarthy has hinted.

McCarthy stated that Idah has earned himself a senior call-up on the back of his impressive performance against Preston North End in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday in which he netted his first hat-trick as a professional.

Born in Cork, the former College Corinthians super kid qualifies to represent Nigeria through his father.

The 18-year-old is already provisionally cap-tied to the Irish after appearing for the country in the U17 EURO qualifiers back in October 2016 and also has caps for the U16, U18, U19 and U21 national teams.

Ireland's first game this decade is a European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in March and Idah won't be eligible to play for Nigeria again if he gets game time.

Speaking to BT Sport on Saturday, McCarthy said : "He might have just got himself one, never mind you getting him one.

"He's scored a hat-trick today, and he's playing in a real competitive game. It's not a U21s, U23s, it's an FA Cup tie against a good Preston team."

The Nigeria Football Federation have lost Michael Obafemi to the Irish and it is all but confirmed that Idah will follow in the footsteps of the Southampton striker by committing his international future to the boys in Green as he has closer ties to his country of birth than Nigeria.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : canaries.co.uk