Arsenal youth team defender Joseph Olowu pledges his international future to Nigeria

ARSENAL youth defender Joseph Olowu has pledged his senior international future to Nigeria pointing out that he looks forward to playing for the Super Eagles despite missing put on playing the youth teams in the past.

Olowu, 20 is primarily a centreback but can also play as a holding midfielder and in the past has missed out on making Nigeria's U23 and U20 teams. He lost a chance to be part of Nigeria's U20 World Cup squad in Poland in June after picking up an injury and then failed to make the U23 team during the qualifiers for the ill-fated U23 Africa Cup of Nations due to passport issues.

Currently playing for Arsenal's U23 side Olowu has been allowed to train with the main senior squad by interim coach Freddie Ljungberg. He is one of several youngsters of Nigerian extraction in the Arsenal youth team that includes Tobi Omole, Zach Medley and Folarin Balogun.

Olowu said: "I lost the chance to try out with the Flying Eagles during camping for the World Cup due to injury like you are aware. I felt bad about it but these things happen in football.

"It would have nice to play at the World Cup but that is gone now. The U23 coaches called me up during the qualifiers and I was supposed to be in camp for the game against Sudan but I had issues with my passport and that was how the chance went.

"I am still optimistic that another chance will come up again and hopefully things will work out just fine as it will be a great honour to wear my our national colours. I just want to keep working hard and hopefully make my first-team debut soon, as working with the first team lads is always a good experience."