NFF step up quest to secure Glasgow Rangers midfielder Ovie Ejaria in response to his sparkling form

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have stepped up their quest to secure the international future of Glasgow Rangers midfielder Ovie Ejaria having seen his sparkling form this season for his clubside.

Ejaria, 20, is a Liverpool player currently on loan to Rangers and since making the switch during the summer has proved to be a revelation in both the league and in Europe. At the moment, he is one of the first names on manager Steven Gerrard’s starting list and scored in the club's recent Europa League match against FC Ufa of Russia.

Finding the back of the net in the 1-1 draw which ensured Rangers ousted FC Ufa 2-1 on goals aggregate, Ejaria has been widely praised by his manager. As a result NFF officials have started keeping tabs on him with an eye to getting him to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria from England.

Fast growing into a reliable, physically-strong, imposing and creative central midfielder with eye for goals, Ejaria has already featured for England at youth level. According to one NFF official, however, the player, who has represented England at U20 and U21 levels, is willing to pledge his international future to Nigeria.

 “You know he came to the Under 17 national team screening as a 15 year old in 2014 and he was dropped. The boy was so disappointed at not making the Nigerian Under 17 cut and wept bitterly.

“He has never hidden his desire to play for Nigeria at full international level and despite the fact that he has played for England at the youth level, Nigeria is still his first choice at full international level. His parents are also so desirous of him playing for Nigeria, in fact, they brought him to the under 17 camp themselves in 2014 and were there throughout the screening," the NFF official added.

He pointed out that the NFF now has to apply to Fifa to enable Ejaria switch his allegiance to Nigeria and the process will soon begin. Standing at six feet, Ejaria wears the number 10 shirt for Rangers and has played seven games this season scoring twice.