Official roadblock: Super Eagles invitee Igoh Ogbu cannot play for Norway amid sensational claims

Allnigeriasoccer.com can report with certainty that sensational reports in the local media suggesting Slavia Prague central defender Igoh Ogbu was approached by the Norwegian Football Association to play for their senior national team are completely false. 

The Gee-Lec International Football Academy graduate has been named in the latest Super Eagles squad and is in contention to make his senior debut in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda's Wasps and Zimbabwe's Warriors.

It was claimed that the Norwegian Federation contacted Igho about the possibility of suiting up for the Scandinavian nation in his final season at Lillestrom in 2022, but there is absolutely no truth in the report.

Having lived in Norway for only four years, the former Nigeria U20 international was well short of the seven-year residency needed for naturalisation. 

As things stand, Ogbu doesn't even hold a Norwegian passport, effectively ending speculation about representing Norway.

With appearances in competitive games for Nigeria U17 and U20 teams, Ogbu is barred from representing Norway or any other country internationally. 

Article 8.1 of Fifa's eligibility rules states that players who (i) have more than one nationality, (ii) acquired a new nationality, or (iii) are eligible to play for several teams due to their nationality – will be able to change teams, only once, subject to the following:

a) He has not played a match (either in full or in part) in an official competition at ‘A’ international level for his current association, and at the time of his first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition for his current association, he already had the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play.

Ogbu is ineligible to play for Norway because he was not a Norwegian citizen when he became provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth, Nigeria.

Competing for a place in the Super Eagles starting lineup, the 25-year-old faces tough opposition from Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations standout William Troost-Ekong and KAA Gent star Jordan Torunarigha.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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