Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Nigeria make Cole call-up blunder
In a bizarre move, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has called up an ineligible player for their forthcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is in the squad for the games against South Africa in September and Sierra Leone in October.
Cole, who has a Nigerian father and Sierra Leonean mother, has played for England at under-21 level.
But he cannot switch allegiance to Nigeria as he is now 24 years old.
Fifa allows players who have represented one country at junior level to switch to another country, but the statutes of world football's governing body state that this can only happen if they are still under the age of 21.
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is in the squad for the games against South Africa in September and Sierra Leone in October.
Cole, who has a Nigerian father and Sierra Leonean mother, has played for England at under-21 level.
But he cannot switch allegiance to Nigeria as he is now 24 years old.
Fifa allows players who have represented one country at junior level to switch to another country, but the statutes of world football's governing body state that this can only happen if they are still under the age of 21.
