Pharell Nnamdi Collins stepped onto the pitch for Germany in their World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, marking a debut that could alter his international career – www.isagoal.com reports.
The 21-year-old Frankfurt defender, who had once been eligible for Nigeria, was deployed out of position at right-back by coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Collins struggled to impose himself and was replaced at halftime by David Raum, but Nagelsmann defended the youngster, insisting, “The responsibility is mine, not his.”
The coach admitted he had limited options for the full-back role and urged patience, praising Collins’ potential despite the rough introduction.
Joshua Kimmich also came to his defense, reminding fans that a debutant relies heavily on the team around him, saying, “It wasn’t worse than all of us.”
For Nigeria, the match all but ends any lingering hope of securing Collins, much like Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi before him, according to Soccernet.ng.
FIFA rules confirm that once a player turns 21 and features in an official competition, their international allegiance is locked.
Since Collins turned 21 in January and has now featured competitively, he is permanently tied to Germany, closing the door on a Super Eagles switch.
This article was updated 3 weeks ago
