The Chances Of Folarin Balogun With Super Eagles

The Chances Of Folarin Balogun With Super Eagles

By Gbenga Gboyega

"I haven't yet declared whom I will commit to internationally, I will be discussing matters with my parents and will then decide"

- Folarin Balogun to Arsenal.com, 2019

Under the previous management of the Nigeria Football Federation, the national team has been able to recruit foreign-born youngsters with the likes of Sone Aluko, Victor Moses, Alexander Iwobi, and Ola Aina, to mention but a few swapping allegiances from abroad.

Most notably, England has been the go-to country over time for players of Nigerian descent born abroad, due to a series of immigration by Nigerians in the past sourcing for greener pastures.

In recent times, the likes of Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, and Fikayo Tomori all turned down the offer to play for the Super Eagles, opting to choose their place of birth - England. 

Other prospects on the radar are Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, with Arsenal's Folarin Balogun joining the ranks.

"I was born in New York, so can play for the USMNT. My parents were born in Nigeria and I have been in England since I was two years old, so I can play for both these countries too. 

"I have several youth caps playing for England and I enjoy their style of play which is similar to Arsenal's" 

The 21-year-old signed up for Arsenal's Academy at the age of eight, and moved through the youth ranks before gaining promotion to the senior team in July 2022. He then proceeded on loan to the French Ligue 1 to play for Stade Reims, where he's currently amassed 19 goals in 32 games across competitions. 

His impressive goal records cannot be overemphasized, scoring 38 goals for Arsenal's U18, and 37 strikes for the U21 team.

Having played 4 games for the USA U18 team and 28 games for England's U17, U18, U20, and U21 sides, the cards are on deck for Folarin to choose where he will star as a senior player internationally, with three countries in view - USA, England, and Nigeria.

Should Folarin be given a chance with the Nigeria national teams?