River Plate’s young striker eyes Flying Eagles call-up after swift rise

The Nigeria Football Federation looks set to secure the signature of 18 year old River Plate youth team striker Jonathan Spiff Asuzu. Ten months ago, exclusively reported that Asuzu had opted to represent Nigeria internationally despite being born and raised in Argentina.

Asuzu, born in Palermo, Buenos Aires, to a Nigerian father, Godwin Asuzu, and Argentine mother, Maria, has now received his first call-up to the Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu will assess the dual-national forward during training camp, and should he feature in Chile, he will become provisionally cap-tied to Nigeria.

It has been a landmark week for Asuzu, who earned promotion into River Plate’s reserve team for Wednesday’s Proyección Tournament clash with Godoy Cruz, following prolific goalscoring displays for the club’s youth sides. A self-professed admirer of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations icon Austin Okocha, Asuzu attributes his passion for the sport largely to encouragement from his father.

Described as an intelligent centre-forward blessed with exceptional game-reading, remarkable pace and ambidextrous finishing, Asuzu represents an exciting prospect for Nigerian football. Earlier this year, he gained exposure to African football while visiting the continent as part of River Plate’s squad at the Mohammed VI Football Academy U-19 international tournament.

Editorial

We find ourselves watching the early stages of something promising taking shape. We believe that Jonathan Spiff Asuzu’s inclusion in the Flying Eagles heralds not just another player acquisition but the start of an inspiring journey for Nigerian youth football. His emergence speaks volumes about the widening scouting footprint and Nigeria’s appeal to talented dual-nationals.

It seems obvious that nurturing such emerging talent can profoundly enrich the national teams. Asuzu’s attributes intelligent positioning, pace, two-footed finishing fill attributes we often seek, yet seldom find in one player. His admiration for Okocha, paired with paternal inspiration, paints a picture of a young man grounded in both heritage and ambition.

We do not doubt that his presence will spark competition in the squad encouraging others to raise their game. We see in this call-up a message: merit on the pitch, passion in the heart, and roots that bind can open doors. Watching the Flying Eagles match in Chile, we will feel pride that our pathways have begun to truly span the globe.

We echo our starting conviction: this is no ordinary selection it is the first step in a path that could lead Jonathan Spiff Asuzu to inspire a generation.

Did You Know?

1. River Plate’s youth system, known as “La cantera”, has produced global stars like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Javier Mascherano underscoring the calibre of training Asuzu receives, even if this wasn’t mentioned in the article.
2. The Mohammed VI Football Academy, where Asuzu played, is located in Morocco and has partnerships with several European clubs to develop African youth talents.
3. Austin Okocha, whom Asuzu idolises, scored one of the most memorable goals in Super Eagles history a sensational free kick against England in 2002.
4. Palermo, Buenos Aires, where Asuzu was born, is the largest and one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Argentina, known for its rich football culture and numerous youth academies.
5. Dual-national players like Asuzu often face cap-tying decisions early. FIFA rules allow a one-time switch before they reach 21, provided they haven’t played a senior competitive match so his participation in U-20 tournaments is a critical moment in determining his future allegiance.