Former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has sent a congratulatory message to Nigeria-eligible striker Samu Omorodion following Spain’s victory in the men’s football competiton of the just-concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, Soccernet.ng reports.
Omorodion broke out last season, scoring for Atletico Madrid in their first game of the campaign. But after that, he had to move to fellow La Liga side Alaves to get more playing time.
Born to Nigerian parents in Spain, the 20-year-old attacker is eligible to play for both countries, and he chose Spain. Although he has not featured for the senior team yet, with the potential he has shown, he has a good shot at it.
Omorodion was part of Spain’s squad for the men’s football competiton at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he was decent. He started only one game, and he scored.
Spain eventually went on to win the final and clinch the gold medal on Friday, their first since 1992.
Following Spain’s victory, Eguavoen, who is also the technical director at the Nigeria Football Federation, celebrated Omorodion’s success on social media.
“Congratulations to Samuel Omorodion on winning Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Gold Medal Final,” Eguavoen wrote.
“The entire Nigerian football community celebrates you. Massive achievement!
Even though Eguavoen did not clearly spell it out, as a member of the NFF it is clearly a way of letting Omorodion know that Nigeria is keeping tabs on him, just in case playing for Spain doesn’t work out.
By FIFA rules, he can still play for the Super Eagles. But from the optics, he will only consider Nigeria if Spain do not give him a call-up.
But for the meantime, Omorodion’s issue will not be his international career. He was close to joining Chelsea, but the deal broke down on Sunday night. As it stands, joining the Blues seems impossible, so he would have to choose between remaining at Atletico Madrid or going out on loan again.