Borussia Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has committed his international future to Austria after switching allegiances from England.
The former Chelsea midfielder was born in Vienna, Austria to Nigerian parents and grew up in Northampton, England, making him formerly eligible to represent any of the three countries.
The 22-year-old represented England at the youth levels and played for them from the Under-17 level through to the Under-21 level.
Chukwuemeka requested to switch allegiances from England to Austria, while Nigeria were also in the midst to persuade him to represent them.
The 6 ft 1 midfielder had been courted by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), who were keen on adding him to their ranks ahead of the qualifying campaign for the 2027 African Cup of Nations tournament.
However, FIFA has now accepted his confirmed the switch, which also puts him in contrntion to play at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The midfielder could make his debut for the Austrian national team this month, when they face Ghana and South Korea in friendly matches as they continue preparation for the World Cup in the summer.
The Wonder Team will compete in the tournament for the first time since 1998 and have been placed in group J alongside defending champions Argentina, Algeria and Jordan.
Austria’s first game at the tournament will be against Jordan on June 16, where Chukwuemeka could make his World Cup debut.
Meanwhile, the Borussia Dortmund star was not the only player whose eligibility switch was approved, as PSV Eindhoven forward Paul Wanner is also now eligible to play for Austria.
The 20-year-old was born in Austria, but grew up in Germany and had represented them at the youth level since 2021.
With both players now available for selection, Austria will fancy their chances of progressing from the group and enjoying a fairytale run at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
