The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) pursuit of Austria-based goalkeeper Tobias Lawal have hit the rocks npflupdates.com reports.
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Tobias Lawal have been asked by Austria national team coach Ralph Ragnick to shun the idea of switching his allegiance to Nigeria. The LASK Linz shot-stopper has been presented with a permanent spot in the Austria senior men’s national team.
Born in Austria but with a Nigerian ancestry, Lawal is eligible to represent both Nigeria and Austria internationally. And while he has honoured a Super Eagles invitation, he’s yet to have any senior Austria senior team call-up.
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Recent reports from Owngoal Nigeria, has it that the player has been listed in the Austrian squad to be in action during the next international break.
Tobias Lawal may no longer consider the Super Eagles of Nigeria
Based on the report by the Nigerian media giant, former Manchester United and current Austria coach Ralph Ragnick has told the player to shun Super Eagles idea and focus on Austria, as a spot has been carved out for him.
“I know he was called up to be part of a training camp last year by the coach. He has already assured him of his spot in his team. And last week we woke up to news of his call-up to the senior national team when they converge for the next international break,” Douglas Morgan, an Austria-based journalist gold Owngoal.
“Ragnick is aware that he is eligible for Nigeria and has told him to shun the idea and focus on austriat.”
Meanwhile, while it’s normal for any player to first of all give up his initial allegiance of a particular state, before accepting another state, Austrian law permits citizens by birth to have dual nationalities.
But in any case of naturalization, it’s highly prohibited; and this has been explained by a British journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
“Lawal obtained his Nigeria and Austrian citizenship by birth. Austrian law permits the retention of both nationalities under such circumstances. It is only acquiring another citizenship through naturalization as Schwarzenegger did, that is prohibited,” Osasu said in a (Twitter now X) post.
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“Whether they were aware of this when he left the Super Eagles camp or not I cannot say. But that’s the reason he didn’t play for Nigeria.”
Recall NFF’s pursuit of Tobias Lawal is as a result of the inconsistency of the current goalkeepers in the Super Eagles.
First choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has been awful in recent times, causing stakeholders to ask for a better capable hands.
