By Milcah Tanimu
The competition to secure young Monaco forward George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena has intensified as both the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) target the 18-year-old talent. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ilenikhena currently plays for AS Monaco and has garnered attention for his exceptional potential.
Ilenikhena arrived in France at age three and began his football journey in Antony, a town in the Parisian suburbs. He made his professional debut with Amiens and made headlines in January 2023 when he became the youngest scorer in Ligue 2 history at just 16 years and 147 days, netting a goal against the Girondins de Bordeaux.
The French Football Federation has taken steps toward Ilenikhena’s naturalization. Technical Director Hubert Fournier leads efforts to secure his representation for Les Bleus. According to RMC Sport, the FFF is closely monitoring Ilenikhena’s development and expects progress on this matter by early 2025.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is not sitting idly by. The NFF is reportedly making efforts to approach Ilenikhena as they seek to integrate the young star into the Super Eagles. With the player eligible to represent either nation, both federations will likely intensify their efforts to convince the promising forward to commit to their respective teams.
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