Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has revealed how the country narrowly missed out on signing Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze and Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham for the Super Eagles, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Pinnick, who served as NFF president between October 2014 and October 2022, oversaw the successful recruitment of several foreign-born talents, including Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey.
However, players like Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi, Abraham and Eze slipped through Nigeria’s fingers during his tenure.
An 18-year-old Eze, who was at Queens Park Rangers at the time, was seen taking pictures in a Nigerian jersey with other Super Eagles stars at the London training camp in March 2017.
Then-head coach Gernot Rohr invited the one-time FA Cup winner ahead of friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso, both of which were later cancelled due to security concerns.
Pinnick revealed that everything was in place for Eze to become a Super Eagles player officially, but he decided to hold off.
“Eberechi Eze came, I met the dad, and we had a long discussion, and he agreed to play for Nigeria,” Pinnick said on the Playzone and Dangolo Way show.
“His sister was his manager at the time, came to my flat, and we already had all the documentation in place.
“However, they told us to hold on, and that was it. Maybe then the elections came, and I left the NFF, and that’s probably why he didn’t play.
“PEberechi loved Nigeria, I can tell you that. I went through my messages with him at some point.”
Instead, Eze chose to wait for England, eventually making his debut for the Three Lions in 2023, six years after his interaction with Nigeria. He has since played 16 games for England, four of those as a starter.
The former Delta State FA chairman recalled a similar situation with Lookman, who had already shunned Nigeria twice before giving a greenlight in 2022.
“Lookman was very tough. I didn’t even know his father was in Nigeria, but I was referred to him, and we played tennis together at the Ikoyi club when we were trying to sign the documentation,” Pinnick said.
“It was tough, but eventually we got him and so many others.”
Pinnick also expressed regret over failing to convince Abraham to commit his international future to the Super Eagles.
Abraham, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, remained eligible to represent Nigeria throughout his youth career despite progressing through England’s age-grade teams.
That window remained open until 2017, when the striker made his senior debut for the Three Lions in a European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic.
“Tammy Abraham, we sat like this,” Pinnick said. “We had agreed that he would come to play, but at the last moment, he changed his decision.
“Now he’s 28 and has returned to Aston Villa, but I can tell you that I regret it. I spoke to his father, and we grew up together.
“He would have played for Nigeria. Agbonlahor played three games (for England), and that was it.”
Abraham has collected 11 England caps, scoring three goals, though his international career has stalled in recent years. His last appearance for the Three Lions came in a UEFA Nations League fixture against Italy in June 2022.
The former FIFA Council member highlighted Iwobi’s choice to repr
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