Nigeria Competes with Italy for Juventus Starlet Destiny Elimoghale

Nigeria is set to battle Italy for the services of highly rated Juventus forward, Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale. Despite being born in Italy, the 15 year old is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents. Italy has already taken steps to secure the talented striker, capping him 13 times for their U15 national team since his debut in November 2023.

Elimoghale has been promoted to Italy’s U16 team but recently withdrew from a match against England. Nigeria, which won the race for Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, now faces a similar battle for Elimoghale. Italy has a history of securing Nigerian players like Angelo Ogbonna and Destiny Udogie, while Nigeria remains determined to recruit future stars like Elimoghale.

Editorial

The race for young talent between national teams is becoming more intense, and Nigeria’s pursuit of Juventus starlet Destiny Elimoghale is another chapter in this ongoing saga. As Nigerian football fans, we recognise the importance of recruiting talented dual national players like Elimoghale, who could significantly strengthen our national team in the future.

Elimoghale’s situation brings to mind the successful recruitment of Calvin Bassey, a player who has become a key asset for Nigeria after choosing the Super Eagles over Italy. These young talents are often faced with difficult decisions, as playing for European nations offers more visibility and access to top tier football infrastructure. However, Nigeria has consistently shown that its footballing culture and passion offer a unique environment for young players to thrive and make a lasting impact.

The Nigerian Football Federation NFF must continue to work diligently to recruit such talents and provide them with the support they need to choose Nigeria over their European counterparts. Elimoghale represents the future of Nigerian football, and securing his services would not only strengthen the team but also send a powerful message to other young, eligible players.

We believe that nurturing homegrown talent and attracting players from the diaspora will play a crucial role in Nigeria’s future football success. The competition with Italy is fierce, but if the NFF presents a clear vision and path for Elimoghale’s growth and development, Nigeria could emerge victorious in this race.

The stakes are high, and the NFF must not relent in its pursuit of players like Elimoghale, who can contribute to the long term success of the Super Eagles. Nigerian football has always thrived on the talent and passion of its players, and securing promising young talents should remain a top priority.

Did You Know?

1. Italy has a long history of successfully recruiting dual national players, including Nigerian born footballers like Stefano Okaka and Angelo Ogbonna.
2. Nigeria previously won a similar battle for Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, who now has 25 caps for the Super Eagles.
3. Juventus is renowned for its strong youth academy, which has produced top talents like Claudio Marchisio and Paolo De Ceglie.
4. Nigeria’s U17 and U20 teams have historically been among the strongest in world youth football, winning the FIFA U17 World Cup five times.
5. Several Nigerian players, including Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho, have transitioned from youth football to becoming stars on the global stage.