Al Ittihad forward George Ilenikhena has hinted at a possible call-up to the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 20-year-old appeared to confirm his allegiance to Nigeria after posting an image on his official Instagram page on Wednesday, in which he is dressed in a Super Eagles green kit, posing beside a large Nigerian eagle statue with the word “NIGERIA” prominently displayed in the background. He captioned the post “Naija” and used Nigerian artiste Asake’s hit song, Gratitude, as background music.
The post was liked by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, sparking speculation that the youngster could be in line for his first senior invitation to the national team, although no official call-up has been announced.
Born in Lagos, Ilenikhena moved to France at the age of three and grew up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine. His background made him eligible to represent both Nigeria and France, but his latest social media post appears to suggest he has chosen to represent the country of his birth at senior international level.
Ilenikhena is currently enjoying one of the most productive spells of his young career, having scored six goals in seven appearances for Al Ittihad this season, including a brace that inspired a 2-1 victory over Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr. Related News W’Cup: Falconets face anxious wait after China draw Again, Fernandez under fire despite Rangers win Tinubu highlights historic speed in fulfilling D’Tigress rewards
