The Nigerian Football Federation have started the process to ensure that Lateef Omidiji Jnr plays for the Super Eagles and not the United States.

Omidiji was born in America but came through the youth ranks at Sparta Rotterdam and it was from there that Arsenal signed him. Due to his age, Omidiji will remain in the Netherlands, but will travel to London a few times a year to train with his new club.

“The Nigerian Football Federation are fighting to keep him with Nigerian Football instead of US Soccer in anticipation of the 2019 U17 World Cup,” a source told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“Through intermediaries in Holland, we know the NFF are fighting hard to grab him back from US Soccer although I think it’ll be difficult.’’

Nigeria are already talking about having the kid play in their qualifiers for the U17 World Cup which start next year. When he will be 14. By the time the tournament rolls around in 2019 he will still only be 16. He has already represented the US at u14 level in 2016 however he is, apparently, open to changing nations.