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Naija Youngsters to Arrive for Liverpool Trial

Catching up with Nigerian prospects Chidera Ejike and Jacob Njoku as they prepare for the start of their Liverpool trials.

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Sheyi Ojo and Jordon Ibe are two precocious attackers schooled in the Liverpool Way (tm), and with Nigerian blood coursing through their veins. On a trial basis, at least, Liverpool will be doubling down on that Naija blood by giving teenaged attackers Chidera Ejike and Jacob Njoku a chance to impress over the next two weeks.

After rumblings months ago that the pair had been given a Reds trial, their agent Babawo Mohammed, who has been more or less the sole source of information on this move since the rumor broke, confirmed that the youngsters are on their way to Merseyside.

"We just received the visas now," he said,"Njoku and Ejike are ready for the trials, they have been training and both are 100 per cent fit.

"We will travel on Saturday to the UK, their trials with Liverpool will last for two weeks."

The first thing to note here is that neither Ejike and Njoku would qualify for a work permit, and the visa referenced by Mohammed is most likely a short term category to allow for the two week trip.

The initial rumblings are that Liverpool, if all goes well with the trial, would look to follow the Allan development path for these two, loaning them to Juliper League side Sint-Truidense VV. A small club in a small league, allowing the yutes to get acclimated to life in Europe is absolutely the right call if it comes to it.

The second thing to note is that Liverpool are finally getting their African contingent together on the roster! How long do we think it's going to take for Mr. and Mrs. Ebay to invite Sheyi, Chidera, and Jacob over for some Ogbono stew and 2 v 2 Fifa sessions? How about African Monopoly nights at Uncle Kolo's pad? The possibilities are endless!

And, more importantly, as anyone who has spent anytime in the motherland will tell you, this is going to go down swimmingly for Liverpool's massive African fanbase. So, here's hoping Chidera and Jacob impress Herr Kloppo and the Ageless One enough to stick around in Red for a while.

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