Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has assured President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, that he will not stop Nigerian players in his team from representing their native country if they so desired.
He also pledged not to stop Chuba Akpom and Semilore Ajayi from honouring invitations from Nigeria whenever they are called up.
After the meeting, the NFF president, who was accompanied by the new special envoy for the federation on International Affairs, Tunde Adelakun, said: “As we had always known, Arsene is very knowledgeable; vast in his knowledge and appreciation of Nigeria as a football playing country, and widely philosophical in his general approach.
“He told me that he has never stopped any player from opting for whichever national team he wants. He said to me that he always tells his players to follow their hearts and not allow people to push them.
“He further assured that if Nigeria extended a call-up to either or both of his players, he will have no objection if the players say they want to go”.
Pinnick had led the charge to Arsenal to enlist Wenger’s support in “the process of rebuilding the country’s football” and he was not disappointed.
“Arsene told us that he will gladly do what he can to assist where we want, and has already started giving encouraging signs towards the capacity building exercises for our coaches at all levels,” he added.
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