Former Ghana Youth International Switches Allegiance to Play for Niger

• Former Ghana U17 star Najeeb Yakubu has switch nationality to play for West African rivals Niger at the senior level
• The Ukraine based center-back played for Ghana at the 2017 U17 World Cup in India and was a member of the team at the AFCON U17 in Gabon
• The Vorksla Poltava player has been named in Niger's squad for the international friendlies next week

Najeed Yakubu, a member of Ghana's U17 team at the 2017 World Cup in India, has switched allegiance to play for the national team of Niger.

The Vorksla Poltava defender has been named in Niger's team for the international friendlies against Mozambique and Libya next week.

In a list posted on social media by the Niger Football Federation, the Ghanaian-born was named in the squad by Jean-Michel Cavalli.

Yakubu was a regular member of the Ghana U17 team but has relations in Niger making his switch an easy one.

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The 21-year-old played all five games as Ghana reached the quarter finals of the tournament before they were eliminated by Mali.

The young defender will be making his Niger debut when they play Mozambique in a friendly on March 23, 2022. He is also in line for the game against Libya on Saturday, March 26.

Najeeb Yakubu stranded in Ukraine

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that a Ghanaian player from Ukraine soccer club FC Vorskla Poltava has made a public plea to leave the country after Russia’s attack that started Wednesday.

Football in Ukraine has been postponed after the country's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that there is martial law across the country after Russia’s invasion.

In an interview with Citi Sports, Najeeb Yakubu, stranded in war-hit Ukraine, shared the feeling of helplessness that spread throughout the city once news of Russia’s attack filtered through to the players.

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Ghana U20 female team beat Ethiopia to urge closer to World Cup qualification

The Black Princesses of Ghana are on the verge of another World Cup appearance after defeating Ethiopia in the first leg of the final round of qualifiers.

The Ghana U20 team recorded a 3-0 victory in Addis Ababa to ensure they are in charge ahead of the second leg in a fortnight time.

In photos posted on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, the players and technical team are seen celebrating the victory.