The Royal Spanish Football Federation has attained significant international success by acquiring the sought-after striker from FC Porto, Samu Aghehowa.
Aghehowa, who holds dual nationality, can no longer represent the Super Eagles after making a cap-binding appearance for Spain earlier this month.
The 21-year-old player came on as a substitute in the final minutes of Spain’s thrilling 5-4 win over France during the UEFA Nations League semifinal on June 5, thereby securing his international future with the current European champions.
Prior to that match, which was his second appearance for the senior team, Aghehowa was still eligible for the Super Eagles after debuting in a Nations League game against Switzerland in November 2024 while still classified as an U21 player.
His inclusion in Spain’s squad for the June matches came after a breakout season at the club level, where Aghehowa emerged as one of the most promising young forwards in European football.
In his inaugural season with Portuguese club Porto, he netted 25 goals across all competitions, catching the attention of national selectors and top European teams.
The Nigeria Football Federation was making a considerable effort to convince the striker to switch allegiances, appealing to his heritage.
Aghehowa’s parents hail from Edo State and the influence of NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles captain and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations champion from the same state.
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Despite Eguavoen’s ties to the Aghehowa family, the NFF ultimately could not convince the forward to commit to the Nigerian national team.
With Aghehowa now out of reach, Nigeria’s recruitment strategy is likely to shift towards another dual-national forward eligible for Spain, Edna Imade.
The Granada forward has attracted interest from both the NFF and the Royal Spanish Football Federation, creating the potential for further competition between the two countries.
The Nigeria Football Federation has already approached Imade about the possibility of joining the national team.
