Nigerian Defender is Eager to Make his Mark at International Level

Rangerscentre-back Emmanuel Fernandez has made it clear that he wants to representNigeria at international level.Fernandezhas been one of the standout performers in Danny Rohl’s team as they bid to endCeltic’s stranglehold on the Scottish Premiership.Rangershave not won the title since the 2020/21 campaign when they beat Celtic by alandslide, claiming top spot with a staggering 20-point gap.Theyhave finished second best behind their local rivals in the subsequent fourseasons but are now in contention to snap their losing streak.Fernandez’sperformances have caught the eye and led Nigerian sports bettors to pay moreattention to the Scottish Premiership title race.Accordingto the sportsbooks featured in BettingTop10’s top 50 betting sites in Nigeria, the Gers are secondfavourites to win the league title.Punterswill fancy their chances of securing a winning return given the influenceFernandez has been having on Rangers’ results this season.Fernandez Helps to Salvage a Point at LivingstonTherewas no shortage of drama at the Tony Macaroni Arena as Rangers battled backfrom two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Livingston in the ScottishPremiership on Sunday.Fernandezwas at the heart of the comeback. He took his goalscoring tally to five goalsin 18 Scottish Premiership games with a crucial strike that sparked Rangers’fightback.Withthe visitors chasing the game late on, a long throw into the Livingston penaltyarea caused panic. The ball dropped kindly inside the six-yard box, andFernandez rifled it home.Fernandezhas built a reputation as a defender who can deliver on both ends of the pitch,and he proved his worth against Livingston.Hewon five of his six ground duels and four of his seven aerial battles. He alsorecorded five clearances and six ball recoveries. He also recorded 91 touchesand two progressive carries.Fernandezcould have bagged a brace, but couldn't keep his shot low despite having arelatively empty net to target. But that took nothing away from his brilliantperformance.A Consistent Performer & the Heartbeat of Rangers’ DefenceFernandezhas only recently established himself in the Rangers backline since completinga £3.5 million move from League One side Peterborough United last summer.Eyebrowswere raised when he barely kicked a ball for the Gers at the start of theseason, but he has since established himself in the first team.Fernandezis one of the highest-rated Rangers players this season, while his goals tallyis impressive for a central defender.TheLondon-born star has already been linked with a big move to the Premier League,which means his performances have not gone under the radar.Arsenaland Chelsea are keeping tabs on his situation, while Bundesliga championsBayern Munich are also in the mix. An international call-up would boost hischances of securing a move.Eric Chelle’s Future Could Impact Fernandez’s National Team HopesFernandezhas publicly made it clear that he wants to represent Nigeria over England, butmanager Eric Chelle’s long-term future could impact his chances.Thecentre-back has never represented England at any level. He has spent themajority of his career in non-league football and only had one full season ofsenior football before joining Rangers.Manypeople believe it is only a matter of time before he receives his firstinternational call-up, and Chelle has also revealed that the defender is on his radar.However,the Malian manager may not be in charge for much longer. Chelle’s currentcontract with Nigeria runs until January 2027.TheNigerian Football Federation (NFF) wants to renew his contract, butnegotiations have stalled after Chelle tabled a 19-point proposal that includeda demand that nearly triples his current wages.Heclaimed that the new proposal was meant to cover his entire technical crew andpersonal assistant, but the NFF wasted no time turning him down.Thatraised further questions about his future, but the NFF have reiterated thatChelle will at least see out the rest of his contract.Fernandezwill hope to make his mark in the national team before Chelle’s potential exit,although he has yet to apply for a Nigerian passport.

Read More