Chiemela Ude: England provisionally cap-tie Arsenal goalkeeper eligible for Nigeria

Talented Arsenal goalkeeper Chiemela Ude is now provisionally cap-tied to England, having made her competitive debut for the Young Lionesses this month, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Ude is eligible to represent the Super Falcons through her Nigerian father but the English Football Association are currently ahead of the Nigeria Football Federation in the race for the services of the dual-national shot-stopper, who is beginning to earn a reputation as a  penalty-saving goalkeeper. 

Sporting the number 13 jersey, the 16-year-old made her first competitive appearance for England youth team in a 7-0 win over Faroe Islands in a 2025 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualifier staged at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent on October 7.

By playing in an official match for England, Ude would need to file a one-time change of association to represent the Nigeria national teams.

She is the third U17 player of Nigerian descent to be provisionally cap-tied by England in recent years, following in the footsteps of her Arsenal teammate Omotara Junaid and Manchester City forward Jane Oboavwoduo.

Ude joined Arsenal in the 2021-2022 season, with the Gunners beating London rivals Chelsea, West Ham United and Millwall to her signature. 

Prior to her competitive appearance for the Young Lionesses, she was a goalkeeper for Essex County, South East of England Region and England U15 schoolgirls. 

Ude was named Most Valuable Player of the JPL Warriors PGA 2024 Pre-Season Tournament in Warwickshire.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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