Nigeria: Ogbonna Never Wanted to Play for Country

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By EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & HENRY UMORU ABUJA—NEWLY elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, called for a review of the Nigerian federation. Tambuwal who said the post election and sectional violence and other crises have sought to tear the nation apart and plant distrust and disunity among the people said:  “We should review how we federate as a nation with the aim of achieving more cumulative efficiencies in the federating units, based on comparative endowment advantages.

Daily Champion (Lagos)

7 June 2011

Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna says playing for Nigeria was never an option for him.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Italy to Nigerian parents, was being targeted by the Super Eagles for a call-up. But he was handed his first Italy senior call up by Coach Cesare Prandelli last Saturday, in spite of playing his football in Serie B.

Ogbonna is now in line for his Italy senior team debut when they play Republic of Ireland in a friendly on Tuesday (today).

The Torino defender says he never considered Nigeria as an option for his international career.

He said: “I never waited for a call from Nigeria. Having been born here and growing up in Italy, I always considered myself to be Italian.

“Thankfully I have never been subjected to racist and ignorant attitudes.”

Ogbonna is the first Torino player to be called up to the Azzurri since 2007.

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Nigeria: Ogbonna Never Wanted to Play for Country