Africa-Press – Tanzania. The Belgian national team is moving swiftly to secure the international future of one of its most promising young talents, Kazeem Olaigbe. Head coach Rudi Garcia has strongly hinted that the 21-year-old winger, who is eligible to represent both Belgium and Nigeria, will be named in his preliminary squad for the upcoming international window in June.
Born in Brussels in 2003, Olaigbe began his football journey in the prestigious youth academy of Anderlecht before making a bold move to England with Southampton. After gaining valuable first-team experience on loan at Cercle Brugge and further developing his game, he signed with French side Stade Rennais, where he remains under contract until 2029.
Despite not yet featuring for Belgium’s senior team, Olaigbe has represented the Red Devils at every youth level up to U21. His pace, flair, and attacking instinct have caught the attention of not just Belgian selectors but also those within the Nigerian Football Federation, who view him as a potential addition to the Super Eagles setup.
Coach Rudi Garcia addressed the situation in a recent media briefing. “Nowadays, we anticipate everything. You will see a dual-national player on the preliminary list—not two, because there is another one I can’t include, who is of Belgian origin but does not yet have a Belgian passport,” Garcia said, offering a not-so-subtle nod to Olaigbe’s situation.
With competition from Nigeria intensifying, Belgium appears eager to tie down the young winger’s allegiance before any senior cap is offered by the Nigerian Football Federation. The June call-up, if confirmed, could be a decisive step in ensuring Olaigbe commits his international future to the Red Devils.
For Belgium, securing a talent like Olaigbe is part of a broader generational development as the golden era of players like Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens fades into memory. For Olaigbe, the choice between the country of his birth and that of his heritage could shape the direction of his international career.
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