Manchester United have confirmed that Chido Obi-Martin, the teenage striker making waves in their academy, will not be eligible to feature in the UEFA Europa League this season.
The 17 year old Danish-Nigerian forward, who has been breaking goal-scoring records at youth level, is unable to participate because he only joined United’s academy last year, making him ineligible under UEFA’s squad registration rules.
Obi-Martin, still eligible to play for Nigeria, has already made three senior appearances for United, including a cameo in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against Fulham, where he came up against Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey.
Having previously impressed in Arsenal’s youth system, the striker has been in outstanding form, and his rapid rise suggests he could become a key player for United shortly.
Editorial
Chido Obi-Martin’s exclusion from the Europa League is unfortunate but not entirely surprising. UEFA’s squad eligibility rules, which require players to have been at a club for at least two years before being registered on List B, have prevented him from featuring on the European stage this season.
However, this should not be seen as a setback for the young forward. His meteoric rise through Manchester United’s ranks, coupled with his goal-scoring prowess at youth level, means it is only a matter of time before he makes an impact on the first team.
For Nigeria, the now is whether the NFF will act quickly to convince Obi-Martin to commit to the Super Eagles before Denmark moves to secure him. With his talent and eye for goal, he could be a long-term asset for Nigerian football.
Did You Know?
- Chido Obi-Martin was born in Denmark but is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents.
- He broke multiple goal-scoring records at Arsenal before joining Manchester United.
- UEFA requires players to have been at a club for two years before being eligible for automatic Europa League registration.
- At just 17, he has already made three senior appearances for Manchester United.
- Nigeria has successfully convinced other dual-national talents, like Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey, to represent the Super Eagles in recent years.
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