Leicester City CB still eligible to represent Super Eagles after being left on the bench for Italy
Published: September 09, 2024
Leicester City central defender Caleb Okoli remains eligible to represent the Super Eagles as he was a non-playing substitute for Italy in a 2-1 win against Israel during a UEFA Nations League encounter at Bozsik Aréna in Budapest on Monday night, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
Had he featured, even for one minute, the Vicenza native would have become permanently cap-tied to his country of birth.
Okoli qualifies to represent the Super Eagles through his Nigerian parents, Paul and Tina Okoli who arrived Italy in 1996.
After he was an unused substitute against France last Friday, he had another chance to make his competitive debut for Gli Azzurri in tonight's fixture against the Israelis.
However, manager Luciano Spalletti bringing on Mateo Retegui and Mattia Zaccagni in the 86th minute ended his dream of a debut in September 2024.
Okoli has played sparingly since his summer move from Atalanta to Leicester City, having missed the opening two games in the Premier League before going the distance against Tranmere Rovers and Aston Villa.
The Italian-Nigerian was behind Alessandro Bastoni, Alessandro Buongiorno, Federico Gatti, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Riccardo Calafiori in Spalleti's pecking order of central defenders for the internationals in September.
Okoli was a player of interest to manager Jose Peseiro during his tenure as coach of the Nigeria national team, with the Portuguese stating that he gave Ademola Lookman the task of convincing the dual-national defender to pledge his international future to Nigeria.
The 23-year-old became provisionally cap-tied to Italy in November 2019 when he started against Malta in a European U19 Championship qualifier.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit: figc.it
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- 'Do I like Osimhen?' - Luis Enrique reacts to reports linking Napoli-owned striker to Paris Saint-Germain
- Confirmed: Promising GK Otega Ekperuoh departs Europe's largest football club for pastures new
- 'Missed a penalty attempting a Panenka' - Lookman's agent Hakimi shares incredible story of African POTY
- 'A striker with so much power' - Anderlecht coach reveals Arokodare will be a marked man
- Chelsea make transfer decision on George after promotion to first team on a permanent basis
- Eguavoen's most used player in Afconq wanted by Trabzonspor, teams in Italy, Brazil, USA and Mexico
- Nigeria, Ghana or Italy? Former Super Eagles star Obafemi Martins weighs in on son's international future
- Osimhen, Dzeko or Immobile? Samsunspor's Dutch defender picks the striker to fear most
- English-born CB opens up on when Nigerian Federation first contacted him to play for Super Eagles
- 'Won't be back' - Xabi Alonso reveals Bayer Leverkusen will face Freiburg without Boniface
Football News 24/7
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Casinos not on Gamstop
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football