Festus Abu
Ado Den Haag’s rising star Tyronne Ebuehi has declared his readiness to play for Nigeria.
The 21-year-old Dutch-born defender, who has not been featured for Holland at any levels, could make his international debut in Nigeria’s friendly game against Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinalists Senegal on March 23. The Super Eagles will next face Burkina Faso, who came third in the Gabon tournament, four days later. Both matches will be played in London.
Ebuehi, who was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, is one of ADO Den Haag’s best performers this term, scoring one goal in 18 appearances for the struggling Eredivisie side.
The Hague are marooned at the bottom of the table of the 18-club league.
The right-back, who The PUNCH had exclusively reported would commit his international allegiance to Nigeria and accept the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr’s invite to play in the friendly affair against Senegal this month, sensationally turned down a chance to play for the Eagles in their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Uyo on November 12, 2016.
The 6ft 2in player was said to be holding for a Holland call-up after PSV Eindhoven duo Joshua Brenet (22) and Bart Ramselaar (20) forced their way into the Orange (the Dutch senior national team).
However, Rohr finally succeeded in convincing Ebuehi to commit his international future to Nigeria –with the player confirming on the Storks’ official website on January 4 that he would honour any invite to represent Nigeria.
“It was tough but Tyronne has agreed to play for Nigeria and I’m very happy,” Rohr, 63, had told our correspondent.
And Ebuehi has kept his promise to play for Nigeria by indicating a readiness to serve the country where his father was born.
“Now I feel I’m ready for it,” the player said in a video interview with ADO Den Haag’s official website.
Ebuehi, who expressed his delight at his inclusion in Rohr’s 25-man squad for the two London friendlies, admitted that he had the difficult task of choosing between Holland and Nigeria.
“Now the call has finally come officially. That’s a nice reward,” he said.
“Four years ago, I played for an amateur side and now I’m invited to the national team.”
Meanwhile, Rohr visited Bundesliga 2 side Hannover 96 forward Noah-Joel Bazee in Germany on Saturday.
The German-born, 20, is one of the players invited by Rohr for the London warm up fixtures.
The German manager had visited Bundesliga club Mainz 05 defender Leon Balogun, who is one of his call-ups, for the Senegal and Burkina Faso matches, before meeting with Bazee in Hannover.
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