English Premier League (EPL) champions Manchester City, has applied for a work permit for Nigeria youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho. Iheanacho who is yet to be capped at full international level by Nigeria has played at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels for Eaglets and the Flying Eagles. Now Man City is likely to use the special talent argument to get the Home Office to grant Iheanacho the right to ply his trade in the United Kingdom.
It was the same argument that helped Chelsea to give John Mikel Obi a contract in 2006 even when he was not then an established Nigeria international. “City has applied for a work permit for Kelechi this week,” one of the player’s representatives revealed yesterday. “We believe he will be granted the chance to play in England,” said the source to africanfootball. com. Iheanacho was the MVP of last year’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won in fine style with the forward finishing also as the second leading scorer of the tournament.
He equally shone during City’s pre-season training tour of the United States of America, scoring a couple of goals with class and composure. Iheanacho turned 18 recently and has been training with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Colombus Crew. Earlier this year, City said it may loan out the starlet when he is 18 and can sign a pro deal, but recent reports suggest it may keep him at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, Iheanacho and fellow former Eaglet, Isaac Success, are among the 47 foreign-based players called by Coach Samson Siasia to the camp of the national Under-23 men’s football team, the Dream Team VI. Iheanacho and Success from Granada lead the pack of former members of the victorious Golden Eaglets team that also includes Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya, Musa Mohammed amongst others. Invited Players:
GOALKEEPERS: John Felagha (Eupen FC, Belgium, Sebastian Osigwe (SC Kriens)
DEFENDERS: Noah Olawale Ojuola (St George FC) Godswill Elohor Ekpolo (FC Barcelona Spain), Semi Ajayi (Arsenal FC England), Nosa Egharevba (New York FC USA), William Troost Ekong (DFC Dordrecht Holland), Kelvin Akpoguma( TSG Hoffenheim Germany), Amstrong Chidi (lefke Turk kulub Cyprus), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin), Dominic Iorfa(Wolves FC, England), Chima Okoroji( Bayern Munich Germany), Musa Muhammed
MIDFIELDERS: Moses Simon Ajala (AS Trencin), Moses Odubajo (Brentford FC), Musefiu Ashiru(FC Midt Jylland), Kehinde Amoo Owoeye(KS Kastrioti Kruje), Gerald Chibueze Diyoke(HNK Rijeka FC, Croatia), Fred Onyedinma( Millwall FC), Chidi Osuchukwu(FC Braga), Lawal Abdulazeez Abidemi(Naftan Novopolofsk, Belarus), Anthony Bassey(Kas Eupen), Shehu Abdullahi(A Qadsia Kuwait), Samuel Owolabi Olajide(HB Koge, Denmark), Kevin Effiong Bassey(SBV Wehen, Germany), Oladele Oshobe(Plovdiv Lokomotiv, Bulgaria), Anderson Esiti(Estoril Praia,Portugal), Samuel. M. Ayinoko(Angelholms FC,Sweden), Sunday D. Abalo(Rio Ave, Portugal)
STRIKERS: Michael Olaitan(Olympiakos, Greece), Paul Ebere Onuachu(FC Midt Jyliand), Imoh Fred Friday(Lillestrom), Lucky Omeruo(Birkirkara FC Malta), Aminu Umar(Samsunspor FC, Turkey) Imoh Ezekiel (Alarabi SC, Qatar), Cedric Omoigui (Real Mallorca, Spain), Odion Goodness Ajayi(HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Isaac Success(Granada,Spain), Atanda Sodiq Ololade(FK Apolonia FC), Kelechi Iheanacho(Manchester Ci t y,Engl and) ,Fos ayo A d a r a b i o y o ( C r y s t a l Pa l a c e , E n g l a n d ) , U c h e Ikpeazu(Watford FC, England), Alex Iwobi( Arsenal FC, England) Taiwo Awoniyi( Kalmar FF, Sweden), Musa Yahaya(Tottenham FC, England), Maxwell Onyewuchi Alozie( Beni Sakhnin FC, Israel).