Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha has officially closed the door on any future with the Super Eagles after making his competitive debut for the Netherlands.
The 22-year-old striker featured for the Dutch national team in their FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Poland in Warsaw on Friday night. Emegha, who captains Strasbourg and is set to join Chelsea next summer, was introduced in the 87th minute as the Netherlands pushed for a decisive result.
Although his time on the pitch was brief, the appearance came in an official competitive fixture this move permanently ties him to the Dutch national team under FIFA eligibility regulations. The development ends any lingering hope of the forward ever representing Nigeria, his mother’s country.
Emegha had previously made his stance known, reiterating his preference for the Netherlands despite overtures from the Nigeria Football Federation, which had attempted to persuade him to switch international allegiance.
