Chelsea’s teenage forward Chizaram “Chizzy” Ezenwata has officially chosen Nigeria over England and Cameroon, confirming his decision to join the Flying Eagles ahead of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, Footynaija.com reports.
The 16-year-old, born in Bexley, London, had represented England at U17 level, scoring twice on his competitive debut against Malta in October 2024. However, he has now decided to wear Nigeria’s green and white, a move seen as a big win for the Nigeria Football Federation in their hunt for diaspora talents.
Ezenwata, who recently signed a scholarship deal with Chelsea, finished the 2024–2025 campaign as the top scorer for the Blues’ U18s.
His record of 12 goals and 4 assists in 24 matches across youth competitions underlines why he is rated so highly in the Chelsea setup. He even made his first appearance at Premier League 2 level, stepping up into U21 football before his 17th birthday.
According to a report by BSN Sports, the teenager has accepted a call-up to Nigeria’s U20 side and is expected to report to camp in Abuja from August 18. Head coach Aliyu Zubairu will assess him as the Flying Eagles fine-tune preparations for the upcoming U20 World Cup.
Ezenwata’s decision ends speculation about his international future. Eligible for three nations through birth and parentage, he has now turned down both England and Cameroon. His father, Ndubuisi Ezenwata, once played for Gombe United in Nigeria, while his mother is Cameroonian. That background had sparked a three-way tussle for his allegiance, but it appears Nigeria have won the race.