Amkar Perm of Russia defender, Brian Idowu will now concentrate of great effort in training with the Super Eagles, as he has been officially cleared to play for the team at competitive level, following his procurement of a Nigerian international passport.
Before now, Idowu had been eligible to play only in friendlies, but he will now concentrate of trying to make the final list to Russia, after he obtained a Nigerian passport, paving the way for him to represent the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup in his country of birth, Russia.
FIFA’s 2018 World Cup regulations state that the only document considered to be valid proof of a player’s identity and nationality shall be a passport that explicitly states the player’s day, month and year of birth.
Identity cards or other supporting official documents shall not be accepted as a valid means of identification.
Nigeria will face Argentina on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, and it is thought that the locals will be rooting for one of their own, Idowu, who was born in the city.
Brian’s dad is a Nigerian while his mom has dual nationality and hails from Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria.
It is not illegal for Idowu to obtain a Nigerian passport but he must inform the Russian authorities within 60 days of receiving the document.
”Brian Idowu already has a Nigerian passport, even before we played Argentina in November in a friendly. He has had it a long time ago, it expired and he got it renewed,” a credible source disclosed.
