Arsenal’s winger, Bukayo Saka, has picked The Three Lions of England ahead of the Nigerian senior national team.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had courted the 19-year-old for the Super Eagles. However, hopes by Nigerian fans that the teenager will some day represent the country was put paid to after he was invited for England’s upcoming games against Wales, Belgium and Denmark.
Saka, who was born in Ealing, Greater London, has expressed happiness at the invitation, tweeting “honoured and grateful to get my first
England call up ! #Blessings.”
The Three Lions play the Welsh side in a friendly at Wembley on October 8 before taking on the Red Devils and the Danish team in Nations League outings.
Saka had in July said that he had a difficult decision to make when it came to international football, and whether to stick with England after progressing through the youth ranks, or switch to Nigeria.
“It’s a tough choice,” Saka said at the time. “I’m happy to have represented England at youth level but I’m also proud of my Nigerian heritage from my parents.
“We haven’t been picked by any team so it’s about staying humble and when the time comes we’ll make the decision.”
Saka has been in fine form for Arsenal since breaking into the Gunners first team and last season he featured prominently as Mikel Arteta’s men finish eighth in the Premier League and also helped the club clinch the FA Cup title.