NFF and Rohr desperate to secure Fifa approval for Danjuma and Lookman ahead of Libya tie next month

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is desperately trying to complete the switching of allegiance of Ademola Lookman and Arnold Danjuma with Fifa before Nigeria plays Libya on October 12 so both players will be available for selection.

Next month, Nigeria will play a double header against Libya, meeting them at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on the 12th and then again for the second leg three days later on the 15th in Algiers. Seeking to rebuild the squad, Coach Rohr is looking to being new blood in and is keen on having both players in his team, following their recent decisions to opt for Nigeria.

Brugge winger Arnaut Groeneveld dropped his Dutch surname and had the Nigerian name Danjuma printed on the back of his shirt, so will be addressed as Arnold Danjuma when playing for Nigeria. Groeneveld, 21, was born in Nigeria but grew up in the Netherlands and has already played for the Dutch U21 side, so will have to go through a change of allegiance with Fifa to be eligible to play for Nigeria.

Everton winger Lookman, 20, is also currently an England youth international, having played for the English U21 team and is currently out on loan to German side RB Leipzig. Earlier this month, he announced his decision to play for Nigeria, rebuffing overtures from England manager Gareth Southgate.

Already talks have begun with the advisers of both players to seal their international switch before the Libya game. Once both players feature in the competitive match, they will beyond the reach of the Netherlands and England.

One Nigerian Football Federation official said: "Time is not on our hands but we will try to conclude the switch for both of them or probably one before the next game against Libya. We are hopeful."

Players who have switched their allegiance to Nigeria in the past include Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi,  Tyronne Ebuehi, William Ekong and Leon Balogun. Since assuming office in 2016, Coach Rohr has aggressively targeted the Nigerian diaspora as another potential source of players for the Super Eagles.