FA to tell African kids: Play for us
THE Football Association have hatched a plan to convince the best African players in academy football to play for England.
England’s top academies are awash with talented players of African origin and FA chiefs want to give themselves the best chance of ensuring those players pursue a career with England.
Players are not fully committed to a nation until they have played a senior competitive fixture for their country.
But the FA will provide kids as young as 13 with a clear international pathway in a bid to prevent them from pursuing a career elsewhere.
Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi, who moved to England from Nigeria at the age of four, is an example of the scenario the FA want to avoid.
There is a belief within the England set-up that Iwobi, despite being only 20, would be in the senior squad now.
However, despite playing for England at junior level, Iwobi pledged his international future to Nigeria and already has eight caps to his name.
Similarly, Chelsea’s Nigerian- born wing back Victor Moses also turned his back on England to play for Nigeria, while Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha opted for Ivory Coast despite winning two senior England caps in friendlies.
The FA are also fearful of losing Everton youngster Ademola Lookman — who was born in Wandsworth in south London and has played for England at junior level — to Nigeria.
The FA are keen to ensure they stop losing youngsters of African origin who they believe have what it takes to make the grade at senior international level.
The move has been welcomed by Premier League clubs as it ensures they will not lose players to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, should a player choose to represent England.
It is not just players of African origin who the FA have tried to persuade.
West Ham’s Portuguese youngster Domingos Quina is on the FA’s radar but they have missed out on Dutch youngsters Tahith Chong, who plays for Manchester United, and Juan Castillo, who is at Chelsea.
The pair were targeted by the FA but have committed their international futures to Holland.