Werder Bremen’s rising star forward, Justin Njinmah, finds himself at a pivotal moment in his international career as he weighs his options between representing Nigeria or Germany, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation faces a race against time to secure his allegiance, as reports from German newspaper Bild via Die DeichStube suggest that the German Football Association has taken notice of his impressive performances.
Born in Hamburg, Njinmah is eligible to play for the Super Eagles due to his Nigerian heritage. However, his stellar season in the Bundesliga, where he has notched up seven goal involvements in twenty games, has brought him to the attention of the German Football Association.
Njinmah’s situation mirrors that of past players like Patrick Owomoyela, Dennis Aogo, and Sidney Sam, who faced similar decisions and ultimately chose to represent Germany despite being eligible for Nigeria. Nevertheless, Nigeria has successfully recruited players like Leon Balogun, Kevin Akpoguma, and Jordan Torunarigha in the past, beating out competition from the DFB.
Andreas Rettig, DFB Sport managing director, acknowledged Njinmah’s development, stating that the player is on their radar. However, it is unlikely that Njinmah will receive a call-up for next month’s internationals against France and the Netherlands.
Njinmah, who is currently on loan at Werder Bremen from Borussia Dortmund, joined the club in January 2022 seeking regular playing opportunities. His choice between Nigeria and Germany could shape the future of his international career and impact the fortunes of both national teams.
