Nestory Irankunda: Burundi FA in Talks with Bayern Munich Teen Over Nationality Switch

Nestory Irankunda: Burundi FA in Talks with Bayern Munich Teen Over Nationality Switch

Lukman Mumuni
updated at November 17, 2023 at 7:56 AM
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  • Burundi FA are hoping to convince Australian youth international Nestory Irankunda
  • The teen forward joined Bayern Munich this week from Adelaide United
  • Irankunda was born to Burundi parents in Tanzania

The Burundi Football Association have started the process of convincing Bayern Munich-bound forward Nestory Irankunda to represent them at the international level.

Irakunda was born in Tanzania to Burundi parents before migrating to Australia, where he started his football career.

The 17-year-old recently signed for German giants Bayern Munich following dazzling performances in the Australian league with Adelaide United.

Nestory Irankunda, Australia, Bayern Munich, Burundi
Nestory Irankunda in action for Australia's U17 team at the Asian championship. Credit: @Socceroos
Source: Twitter

The teen sensation has already received an invite from the Australian national team but was an unused substitute in the international friendly against Ecuador in March, leaving the door open for Burundi.

"We'd love him to play for Burundi but he holds the key - he might or might not come play for us," Burundi FA president Alexandre Muyenge told BBC Sport Africa.
"He has Australian citizenship, but his parents are from Burundi.
"The Burundi FA started tracking him when he was 14 years old and I got a chance to visit him in Adelaide. We spoke and I wished him well."

Irakundi represented Australia at the U17 level but can now switch allegiance and play for the country of his parents, while there is also an option of representing Tanzania.

He is expected to join Bayern Munich on July 1, 2024.

"Nestory is an extremely quick winger, a strong dribbler and finisher with good drive towards goal. We're convinced by his potential and that he will take the next steps with us," said Bayern Munich's director of youth development, as quoted by the club's official website.

Burundi got off to a winning start in the World Cup qualifiers after beating The Gambia 3-2 on Thursday evening.

The East African nation have appeared at the Africa Cup of Nations once, finishing bottom of their group in 2019.

Bayern Munich sign Australian teen Nestory Irankunda

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Bayern confirmed the signing of Nestory Irankunda from Adelaide United.

The teen was signed for a record £2.85 from Adelaide United and inked a long-term deal. He will join Bayern on July 1 2024, since FIFA rules prevent him from moving to Europe until he turns 18.

The teenager will remain with the Adelaide side for the rest of the 2023/24 season. His meteoric rise caught the attention of several top clubs from Europe.

Authors
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Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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