Monaco forward George Ilenikhena, who recently made headlines with his third goal in two games following his return from injury in the 3-3 draw against Benfica, is currently not eligible to represent France on the international stage.
The 18-year-old, who made the move to AS Monaco from Belgium’s Antwerp in the summer, has had a challenging start to his Ligue 1 career, hindered by injuries.
Despite these setbacks, Ilenikhena has managed to score two goals in Ligue 1 and one in the UEFA Champions League.
There has been growing speculation about the young forward’s international future, with some suggesting that Ilenikhena may be more inclined to play for France, where he grew up, rather than Nigeria.
However, OwnGoalNigeria.com has learned that Ilenikhena does not currently hold a French passport and is still registered as a Nigerian player in the league.
His efforts to obtain a French passport have not yet succeeded, despite the French Football Federation’s attempts since last year.
As a result, Ilenikhena is eligible to represent Nigeria at the international level and could be included in the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who is a known admirer of Ilenikhena’s talent, has expressed interest in having the forward join the team.
“Ilenikhena is a fantastic talent, and I would love to have him as part of the team,” said Chelle.
“We are hoping that he’ll be available for our upcoming World Cup qualifiers.”
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ilenikhena moved to France with his parents at the age of three and grew up in Antony. His football journey began with his city’s club, where he quickly showed his promise before joining Amiens in 2021.
There, he scored 24 goals at the U-17 national level, and by 2023, he made his debut in Ligue 2 with Amiens at just 16 years old, becoming the league’s youngest-ever scorer.
Ilenikhena’s performances soon caught the attention of top clubs, and after a successful spell at Antwerp, where he scored 14 goals across all competitions, he signed a five-year deal with AS Monaco in July 2024.
Despite his international eligibility status being up in the air, Ilenikhena’s current focus is on establishing himself as a key player for Monaco.
However, with Nigeria eager to secure his talents, the Super Eagles could soon have another promising young star on their side.
