Viral photos showing Arsenal sensation Eberechi Eze training with Nigeria's Super Eagles back in 2017 have ignited fresh debate among football enthusiasts across the country. The resurfaced images reveal what might have been for Nigerian football.
London Training Camp That Almost Changed Everything
The photographs capturing a young 18-year-old Eze sharing the pitch with established Super Eagles stars were taken during Nigeria's training camp in London in March 2017. Then-coach Gernot Rohr had invited the promising Queens Park Rangers youngster as the team prepared for friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso.
Although the scheduled matches were eventually cancelled due to security concerns, the training sessions proved significant. Eze was photographed alongside current Super Eagles mainstays including Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, and William Troost-Ekong, as well as established stars like Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Leon Balogun.
Nigeria's Aggressive Recruitment Campaign
At the time, the Nigerian Football Federation under then-President Amaju Pinnick made a concerted effort to secure the talented midfielder's international future. Recognizing Eze's potential as one of England's most exciting young prospects, the NFF moved early to convince him to commit to Nigeria's long-term project.
The training camp represented Nigeria's first genuine attempt to bring the gifted playmaker into the Super Eagles fold. Pinnick personally led the recruitment drive, hoping to add Eze to what could have been a formidable midfield generation featuring Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Joe Aribo.
England's Eventual Success in Securing Eze
Despite Nigeria's early interest and the 2017 training invitation, Eze never featured in an official match for the Super Eagles. This kept his international options open, and England eventually intensified their pursuit as the player developed at QPR and later Crystal Palace.
Eze ultimately accepted an England call-up and made his competitive debut in 2023, officially cementing his international future with his country of birth. The Arsenal star has since expressed satisfaction with his decision, emphasizing it was made carefully and without external pressure.
"It is the highest level of football... I made the decision and I'm very happy to be here," Eze told ESPN regarding his England commitment.
What Might Have Been for Nigerian Football
The resurfaced photos gained traction online following Eze's outstanding performance for Arsenal, where he scored a hat-trick against Tottenham in the North London derby. This remarkable achievement made him the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick in the historic derby, joining an exclusive group that includes Ted Drake, Terry Dyson, and Alan Sunderland.
Nigerian football fans have been left wondering how different the Super Eagles' trajectory might have been had the NFF succeeded in securing Eze's services. His current form at Arsenal and emergence as one of the Premier League's standout attacking midfielders continues to fuel discussions about missed opportunities and alternative timelines for Nigerian football.
The debate highlights the ongoing competition for dual-nationality players and serves as a reminder of the talent that occasionally slips through the net of Nigerian football administration.
