Italy call up three Nigeria-eligible youngster as Super Eagles get Ahanor boost

Nigeria-eligible defender Honest Ahanor has taken a big step in his international career after receiving his first call-up to Italy’s U21 team just days after getting his Italian passport, Afrik-Foot reports.

The young Atalanta BC defender, recently became eligible to represent Italy at all levels after officially obtaining his citizenship. Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, Ahanor had a choice between both countries but has decided, for now, to begin his international journey with Italy.

Italy U21 coach Silvio Baldini included the 18-year-old in his squad for important European Championship qualifying matches against North Macedonia and Sweden later this month. If he plays in these games, it will mark his debut for the Azzurrini.

Ahanor’s rise has been impressive. Since joining Atalanta, he has featured in 28 matches, including 16 starts. He has shown maturity beyond his age, playing as both a centre-back and wing-back. His calmness on the ball and strong passing ability have stood out, especially in high-level competitions like Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.

His performances have also been backed by strong numbers. He has helped his team keep six clean sheets this season and has maintained a very high passing accuracy, showing how reliable he is in defence.

Ahanor is not alone. Other young Nigeria-eligible players like Jeff Ekhator and Luca Koleosho have also been regulars in Italy’s U21 squad this season. Ekhator plays for Genoa CFC, while Koleosho recently moved from Burnley to Paris FC to get more playing time.

Nigeria: Super Eagles still has hope as trio remain eligible

Despite choosing to represent Italy at youth level, Ahanor, Ekhator, and Koleosho are still eligible to play for Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles.

This is because none of the three players has played a competitive match for Italy’s senior team yet. According to FIFA rules, players can still switch countries if they have only featured at youth level.

Even if Ahanor makes his debut for Italy U21, he will only be provisionally tied to Italy. This means he can still change his international future later, but he would need official approval from FIFA to do so.

This situation offers a window of opportunity for Nigeria. The Super Eagles could still convince these talented players to switch allegiance before they make a senior appearance for Italy.

Ekhator, for example, has already shown great promise in Serie A despite being just 19. He has made 23 appearances for Genoa and scored two goals, using his strength and energy to trouble defenders. Koleosho, on the other hand, is known for his speed and dribbling ability. His move to France has helped him stay sharp, and he has already made an impact with a goal in Ligue 1.

All three players are developing quickly at top European clubs, and their international futures remain open. While Italy has made the first move by calling them up at youth level, Nigeria still has a chance to bring them into the Super Eagles setup.