Jordon Ibe will commit his international future to England rather than Nigeria, according to the Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh.
The 19-year-old Liverpool winger has represented England at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels but also qualifies to play for Nigeria through his father and has been the subject of an international tug-of-war over his future.
Ibe has yet to play a senior game for either country, but now looks to have his heart set on representing England. The Nigeria coach and former captain had reportedly visited the player at Liverpool’s training ground last month to try to convince him to switch his allegiance to Nigeria.
“Jordon Ibe’s family informed me by a telephone call that he was giving priority to an England call-up. We wish them well,” Oliseh said on Twitter.
England’s manager, Roy Hodgson, has praised Ibe, who he said was brought to his attention by the former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. England face Estonia and Lithuania in their final Euro 2016 qualifiers in October, having already secured their place at next year’s finals in France.
“He is certainly a player we like very much and certainly a player we have our eyes on. It’s far from impossible that he will get called up in one of the next games,” Hodgson said.
Liverpool bought Ibe from the League Two club Wycombe in 2012. He made his debut for the Merseyside club in 2013 and was sent out on loan to first Birmingham and then Derby to continue his development.
The winger was recalled from his loan spell at Derby in January and has gone on to make 19 appearances for Liverpool, featuring in all five of their games this season.
The Guardian
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