The race to secure young Monaco forward George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena is heating up, as both the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) vie for his international allegiance.
Ilenikhena, born in Lagos, Nigeria, has attracted attention for his remarkable talent, with both France and Nigeria eager to bring the 18-year-old into their senior squads. Having moved to France at the age of three, Ilenikhena began his football career in Antony, a suburb of Paris, before making his professional debut with Amiens.
In January 2023, Ilenikhena made history by becoming the youngest scorer in Ligue 2 at just 16 years and 147 days, netting a goal against Girondins de Bordeaux. His rapid rise has prompted the French FA to begin the naturalisation process, led by Technical Director Hubert Fournier, with the aim of securing his representation for France.
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According to RMC Sport, the FFF is closely tracking the player’s development and expects progress by early 2025. Meanwhile, Nigeria is making its own moves to approach Ilenikhena, hoping to bring him into the Super Eagles fold.
With Ilenikhena eligible to represent either nation, both federations are set to intensify their efforts to convince the promising forward to commit to their teams.