Dutch-born Nigerian defender Endurance Alade has reportedly made his long-awaited debut for Vitesse U-21 following a successful trial with the club, signalling a major step forward in his career.
The move comes amid growing media attention after he publicly declared his ambition to represent Nigeria at senior international level.
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Alade, who spent time in youth setups at MSV’71 and Excelsior Maassluis before joining VV Spijkenisse, is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents despite being born in Vlissingen, Netherlands.
In recent interviews, Alade made it clear that his heart is set on the Super Eagles, saying that even if the Netherlands were to call, he would decline in favour of Nigeria. He has expressed admiration for players like Jay-Jay Okocha and William Troost-Ekong, citing them as role models for both style and national pride.
Meanwhile, Nigerian football authorities are watching closely. Alade has previously been omitted from Nigeria’s U20 AFCON squad, a decision the Flying Eagles coach attributed to the fact that he was on trial at the time.
If he continues to impress at Vitesse U-21, many expect that Alade might well earn his first call-up to the senior Super Eagles in the near future — a trajectory he seems determined to fulfil.
