Flying Eagles: Key update on Ebrima Manneh’s eligibility for Nigeria emerges

A fresh update has emerged regarding Flying Eagles midfielder Ebrima Manneh, who has been attracting attention over the last two days, Soccernet.ng reports.

​The Sporting Supreme Academy talent was one of the 23 players called up by coach Abdu Maikaba for the 2026 Under-20 WAFU B Championship.

​However, his eligibility has come under scrutiny, with claims that he is Gambian and therefore ineligible to represent Nigeria at any level under FIFA eligibility laws.

​The situation has caused quite a stir, but a key update on the issue has now emerged.

​Latest Update on Manneh

​Soccernet has gathered that although Manneh has Gambian roots, he is a Nigerian citizen.

​According to a source familiar with the player, the 18-year-old has a Gambian father and a Nigerian mother, and he has firmly committed his international future to Nigeria.

​“His name is Ebrima Manneh. His father was Gambian and his mother is from Adamawa,” the source said.

​“He has been in Nigeria for a long time. He came to the country with his uncle before joining our team. He has been playing here since he was about 14, featuring for HB Academy and Sporting Supreme.

​“He has never been invited by Gambia and has never shown any interest in playing for them. He wants to play for his mother’s country, Nigeria.”

​“The Gambian people are not happy because they want him to play for them. Now, they are going around claiming he is solely Gambian,” the source added.

​Under FIFA regulations, as long as a player has parents from a country and holds citizenship there, he or she is eligible to represent that nation.

​In Manneh's case, because his mother is Nigerian, he is fully cleared to play for the Flying Eagles.

​Flying Eagles Set for Takeoff in Ivory Coast

​Coach Maikaba and his boys are focused on successfully defending their Under-20 WAFU B tournament title in Ivory Coast.

​They enter the competition as defending champions, having defeated Ghana in the final last time out.

​Coincidentally, they will face Ghana again in their opening match of the tournament in Yamoussoukro on Monday, before taking on Togo and Burkina Faso in their remaining group-stage fixtures.