Newcastle United winger sets condition on representing Nigeria under coach Éric Chellé ahead of 2026 World Cup push.
Eligible to represent England, Ireland and Nigeria through his parentage, Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy has recently turned down an offer from the Super Eagles to commit to Nigeria; at least for now. The development, confirmed by multiple sources, presents a significant blow to Nigeria’s recruitment of diaspora talent under coach Éric Chellé.
Murphy, 30 years old and in strong form for the Magpies, was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) via Chelle in the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Super Eagles coach had publicly indicated his intent to deepen the squad by securing eligible players born outside Nigeria.
However, Murphy’s response was clear: he declined immediate allegiance to Nigeria, signalling he would prefer to wait for a senior call-up from England. As one NFF official put it, “Chellé had contact with Murphy on playing for Nigeria, but he prefers England. It could change if we qualify for the World Cup… but it might be late for Chelle.”
From Nigeria’s perspective, the timing and ambition are critical. Having failed to secure early recruitment of diaspora players ahead of key qualification fixtures, the country’s push for 2026 is under pressure.
For Murphy himself, the calculus is understandable. Playing for England, even if just a few caps, carries prestige, and he appears to hold out hope of breaking into the senior Three Lions squad. Meanwhile, his club form for Newcastle bolsters his case.
Still, the door is not fully closed. Murphy told Chelle that if Nigeria qualify for the 2026 World Cup, he “might reconsider” representing the Super Eagles. That conditional nuance offers Nigeria a faint chance; But one dependent on success in the qualifiers.
What this means for Nigerian football is layered. The Super Eagles’ recruitment model increasingly relies on tapping diaspora talent to complement home-based players. Every miss means not just a lost player, but a strategic gap. Meanwhile, for fans and stakeholders of the league, it raises questions about how Nigeria markets its international future and how players perceive value in choosing Nigeria.
Coach Chelle now faces the task of building forward momentum without Murphy’s immediate commitment; turning instead to other eligible players or strengthening the domestic pipeline. Whether Murphy eventually switches remains uncertain, but Nigeria’s window for leveraging this opportunity narrows with every qualifier.
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