Ahanor Stays Uncapped After Italy U21 Bench Role in 4-0 Macedonia Rout

Nigeria target Honest Ahanor kept his Super Eagles eligibility intact after remaining an unused substitute in Italy U21’s 4-0 demolition of North Macedonia in a 2027 European U21 Championship qualifier at the Computer Gross Arena in Empoli on Thursday.

Had the Atalanta centre-back featured, he would have been provisionally cap-tied to Italy, requiring a formal one-time switch request to FIFA to ever represent Nigeria.

Ahanor was one of four Nigeria-eligible players in Silvio Baldini’s squad alongside Luca Koleosho, Jeff Ekhator and Brentford fullback Michael Kayode. While Koleosho and Ekhator started, Kayode came off the bench at half-time.

Italy were ruthless from the off. Cher Ndour struck inside four minutes, Luca Lipani — who had rattled both the post and bar before the break — made amends with the second early in the second half, Ekhator added a third in the 50th minute, and Seydou Fini wrapped up the rout from the penalty spot late on.

Ahanor’s next window comes on March 31, when Italy U21 take on Sweden — another 90 minutes that Nigeria will be watching closely.