The race to safe younger Monaco ahead George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena has intensified as each the French and Nigerian Soccer Federations (FFF and NFF) set their sights on the 18-year-old expertise, Soccernet.ng studies.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and at present enjoying for AS Monaco, Ilenikhena has attracted consideration for his distinctive potential, with each nationwide groups wanting to safe his providers for his or her senior squads.
Ilenikhena, who arrived in France on the age of three, started his soccer journey in Antony, a city within the Parisian suburbs, earlier than making his skilled debut with Amiens.
He made headlines in January 2023, when, at simply 16 years and 147 days, he turned the youngest scorer in Ligue 2 historical past, netting a aim in opposition to the Girondins de Bordeaux.
The French Soccer Federation, via Technical Director Hubert Fournier, has already initiated the method of Ilenikhena’s naturalisation, as they intention to safe his illustration for Les Bleus.
In line with RMC Sport, the FFF is carefully monitoring the ahead’s growth and expects progress on the matter by early 2025.
Nonetheless, Nigeria just isn’t standing by idly. The Nigerian soccer physique are reportedly making efforts to method Ilenikhena as they search to convey the younger star into the Tremendous Eagles fold.
With the participant eligible to characterize both nation, each federations will possible intensify their efforts to persuade the promising ahead to decide to their respective groups.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports activities journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a confirmed observe file in conducting interviews with Tremendous Eagles stars corresponding to William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Shiny Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and lots of others. He has additionally made a big impression in breaking switch information tales.
Grounded in video enhancing, video journalism, social media administration, and content material technique, Ayomide brings a wealth of experience to his work.
With a Bachelor’s diploma in English Language from Adeyemi School of Training and a Grasp’s Diploma in Faculty Library and Media Expertise from the College of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel within the discipline.