Reports that Arthur Okonkwo has had a “nationality switch” approved have been shot down, with the player eligible to represent England or Nigeria.

Arsenal’s Arthur Okonkwo is having a strong season on loan with Wrexham in League Two, keeping 11 clean sheets in 26 games as they fight for promotion.

Perhaps that’s why his name has started to appear in conversations about the Nigeria national team, with Sports Radio Brila FM claiming FIFA had approved the player’s “nationality switch” to Nigeria.

But AllNigeriaSoccer have shot down those rumours, pointing out that Okonkwo doesn’t have to apply for a change of association, as he’s not provisionally cap-tied to England anyway.

Okonkwo has represented England at youth level, playing for the u18s all the way back in 2018. But that wouldn’t prevent him from accepting a call-up from either England or Nigeria in the future.

The goalkeeper is eligible to represent either country, and until he accepts a call-up from one, there’s no need for him to officially switch his allegiance to the other.

The fact that Okonkwo hasn’t yet represented Nigeria is presumably just because they haven’t called him up yet.

There have been recent reports of Nigerian interest in the goalkeeper, particularly ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. Perhaps that could lead to an inclusion in one of their squads in the upcoming international breaks.

For now, Okonkwo will keep focusing on his club football, with Wrexham third in League Two. The team are just three points off the top of the table, with a game in hand on league leaders Stockport.