Al Ittihad forward George Ilenikhena has seemingly hinted at a possible call-up to the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month.
The 20-year-old appeared to confirm his allegiance to Nigeria after posting an image on his official Instagram page on Wednesday. In the striking image, Ilenikhena is dressed in a Super Eagles’ green kit and poses beside a large Nigerian eagle statue, with the word “NIGERIA” prominently displayed in the background.
He also captioned the post “Naija” and used Nigerian artiste Asake’s hit song Gratitude as the background music, adding even more Nigerian flavour.
The post was then liked by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, sparking speculation that the youngster could be in line for his first senior invitation to the Nigerian national team, although no official call-up has been announced.
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Born in Lagos, Ilenikhena moved to France at the age of three and grew up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine. His background made him eligible to represent both Nigeria and France, but his latest social media post appears to suggest that he has chosen to represent the country of his birth at senior international level.
His potential arrival would represent a significant boost for the Super Eagles, who could be securing both an exciting attacking option for the present and a player capable of becoming an important part of the team’s future.
Ilenikhena is currently enjoying one of the most productive spells of his young career. The forward has scored six goals in seven appearances for Al Ittihad this season, including a brace that inspired a 2-1 victory over Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr.
His rise began in France, where he progressed through the youth ranks of amateur side Antony Football Evolution before joining Amiens in 2021.
Despite being just 15 at the time, Ilenikhena attracted considerable attention after scoring 24 goals for Amiens’ Under-17 side during his debut season. His performances quickly brought him onto the radar of clubs in France and beyond.
He subsequently made the step up to Amiens’ senior team, scoring twice in 17 Ligue 2 appearances during the 2022/23 season.
In June 2023, Ilenikhena moved to Belgium to join Royal Antwerp. He continued his development at the club, registering 14 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.
It was during his time in Antwerp that he announced himself on the European stage, scoring his first Champions League goal against Barcelona. The goal helped Antwerp secure their first-ever victory in the competition.
His performances earned him a move to Monaco in July 2024, where he once again found the net against Barcelona, scoring in a 2-1 victory over the Spanish giants in the opening match of the Champions League league phase.
Ilenikhena went on to make 51 appearances for Monaco across all competitions, scoring 10 goals before securing a high-profile move to Al Ittihad in February 2026 for a reported €33 million.
Nigeria will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in Group L against Madagascar on Friday, September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
The Super Eagles are also scheduled to face Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6.
Eric Chelle’s side will be looking to begin the qualifying campaign strongly after recent disappointing results, which saw Nigeria fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and finish third at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
With Ilenikhena currently in impressive form and seemingly signalling his commitment to Nigeria, his potential inclusion could provide another exciting attacking option for the Super Eagles.
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