Hope gone? Roberto Mancini ends Nigeria’s dreams for two new Afro Super Eagles defenders

• The dual-nationality prospects will join the Italian camp to confront European heavyweights Belgium, Turkey, and France in a series of high-stakes matches.

Nigeria’s hopes of convincing Brentford’s Michael Kayode and Crystal Palace’s Honest Anahor to pledge their international allegiance to the Super Eagles are officially over.

Italy’s new head coach, Roberto Mancini, has officially called up both Nigeria-eligible defensive powerhouses to his latest 34-man senior Azzurri squad.

The dual-nationality blow comes just hours after Kayode put on an absolute masterclass to help dismantle Chelsea.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been completely beaten to the punch by the tactical alertness of former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

Looking to rebuild the Italian national team with elite youth, Mancini has unleashed a massive 34-man squad for their upcoming fixtures against Belgium, Turkey, and France and he has placed two highly coveted Nigerian targets right at the centre of his plans.

Brentford officially confirmed on Saturday morning that their 22-year-old sensation, Michael Kayode, has been rewarded for his explosive Premier League form with his first-ever senior call-up to the Italian national team.

Taking to social media to celebrate the milestone, the Bees proudly announced: “Michael Kayode has been called-up to the senior Italy squad for the first time. So proud of you, Michael.”

The blow hurts twice as bad for Nigerian football fans, as Kayode wasn’t the only dual-nationality player stolen away by Mancini. Included in the very same 34-man Azzurri team is 18-year-old defensive prodigy Honest Anahor.

Anahor, who is currently turning heads on loan at English Premier League side Crystal Palace, is widely regarded as one of the most promising young centre-backs in European football.

The NFF had quietly kept tabs on both players, hoping to inject their world-class defensive traits into the national team. Instead, Mancini has moved ruthlessly fast to lock them into the Italian system before Nigeria could even extend an official invitation.

This double heartbreak adds immense salt to the wounds of Nigerian supporters who have been fiercely debating the defensive frailties of the current national setup.

Just yesterday, national team coach Eric Chelle’s latest squad selections divided public opinion across social media due to an apparent lack of world-class structural depth.

While Kayode prepares to link up with the Azzurri elite, the Super Eagles will have to look elsewhere to solve their long-term defensive puzzles.

The era of assuming dual-nationality players will wait forever for Nigeria is completely dead; European giants are no longer sleeping.