Leicester, Wolves Youngsters Eligible For Nigeria, England Begin Training With USMNT

Published: November 10, 2020

Wolverhampton Wanderers central midfielder Owen Otasowie and Leicester City goalkeeper Chituru Odunze remain in contention to make their senior bow for the United States in the coming days, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The two teenagers have both reported for international duty in Cardiff ahead of Thursday's friendly with Wales in Swansea and trained for the first time with the United States senior team yesterday.

Raleigh, North Carolina-born Odunze is in familiar surroundings as he wore the colours of Cardiff City Academy after leaving Chelsea youth team.

Odunze's mother is a physician and his father is a retired chemist and university lecturer, according to US Soccer.

Apart from United States, the 18-year-old is also eligible to represent Canada, England and Nigeria internationally.

The 19-year-old Otasowie earned three caps for United States U18 team before receiving a maiden call-up to the senior team.

He has made major inroads in his career in recent weeks, making the matchday squad in three of the last four matches contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the competitive English Premier League.

The New York City-born midfielder is eligible to wear the colours of Nigeria and England in addition to his country of birth.

If Odunze and Otasowie make their international debuts for USMNT, they would follow in the footsteps of players of Nigerian descent such as Oguchi Onyewu, Maurice Edu, Ade Coker, Ugo Ihemelu and Matthew Olosunde who have been capped by USA.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : ussoccer.com