Reading FC’s midfielder, Hope Akpan, has openly expressed his intention to wear the Nigerian jersey and play for the Super Eagles.
The player was born in the UK to Nigerian parents and is eligible to represent both England and Nigeria, but when he was quizzed by the BBC about his international future, he said: “That process is going on”.
“Definitely to play for Nigeria will be an honour even though I was born in the UK and to play for England will be an honour too but at the moment Nigeria is where my heart lies,” he continued.
The 21-year-old admitted that the victory of the Super Eagles at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, was part of the reason why he opted for Nigeria.
“I watched Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations and was really delighted that they managed to win that,” he said. “It has been a while that Nigeria has been at the top of the tree in Africa, and to see a young player like Victor Moses, who was brought up in the UK play for the team, do well for the team and be one of the outstanding players for Nigeria – as I thought, has inspired me to want to do the same.”
However, he said that nobody from the Nigeria Football Federation has contacted him yet, about representing his country of origin.
“I would like some contacts because it is definitely one of the things I want to do in the future,” he said.
The midfielder has played seven times for Reading in the Premier League and will be remembered for his two assists for Adam Le Fondre in the match against Chelsea that ended 2-2.
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