It has become a tradition for players of the same Nationality to meet and have a chat after a match. The big question is what do they discuss when they meet as such.
It often takes some serious convincing to make players of dual Nationality to pledge their loyalty to a particular country.
Sometimes it’s just takes a little and yet short conversation for some players to be convinced to make such switch.
It took Portuguese Super star, Cristiano Ronaldo, just less than 30 secs to convince Mathijs De Ligt a former Ajax Captain to join Juventus FC after the clash between the Netherlands and Portugal at the UEFA Nations League final last year.
Philip Billing is a player of high quality, an attacking midfielder who played for Huddersfield in the Premier League before they were relegated.
Now he is on the books of Premier League relegation battling side, Bournemouth. He is a regular in their starting eleven. Billing is one of such players that possess dual Nationality, he qualifies to play for Nigeria as his father is a Nigeria while his Mother hails from Denmark.
Photo: Alex Iwobi and Philip Billing
It was after an encounter between Bournemouth and Everton that the duo of Billing and Iwobi were seen together having a chat. Bournemouth defeated Everton in that encounter by 3 goals to 1.
According to Goal.com, Philip Billing later disclosed that Alex Iwobi told him to consider playing for the Eagles. In his words, Billing said
“It wasn’t until when we were going to play against Everton a couple of weeks ago when Alex Iwobi asked if I might be interested in coming and playing for Nigeria,” as reported by Bournemouth Echo.
“He said the coach had asked me. It was the first time I heard anything concrete myself.
“It’s a pat on the back that another country would like you to play for them. I just take that as a shrug and proof that you are doing well.
“It would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria, even though my father is from there.
“I am half Nigerian and I feel that way too but I was born and raised in Denmark. My mother is Danish and my sister is Danish, so it would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria.”
Billing, 23, doesn’t sound like one who is duly considering the prospect of representing the Super Eagles but one thing that is sure is that the player is a good player.
Recall, that the NFF through its President, Amaju Pinnick have made it clear that Nigeria won’t beg anyone to play for the country.
It will be on Rohr to extend a call up to the player, even as Iwobi have done his own part by making the player know that his services are required by his father’s land.
Should Nigeria consider inviting Billing to the National Team?
