Lecce’s highly-rated defender Patrick Dorgu has officially been cap-tied to Denmark, ruling him out of representing Nigeria at the international level unless his Danish citizenship is revoked. The 20-year-old earned his fourth cap for Denmark during their 2-1 UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain on Friday, fulfilling FIFA’s requirements to commit to a national team.

Dorgu, born in Copenhagen to Nigerian parents Paul and Clara Dorgu, was previously eligible to play for Nigeria. However, FIFA rules state that players under 21 with dual nationality are only cap-tied after playing four matches for one country, including at least one competitive game—criteria Dorgu now meets.

He becomes the second Nigerian player to commit his international future to Denmark in recent years, following Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing. Billing, whose father is Nigerian, rejected overtures from former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to switch allegiances and has since become a key player for Denmark, earning cap-tying status in 2022.

The Danish Football Association has also beaten Nigeria in other recruitment battles, including securing the services of Portland Thorns defender Isabella Obaze at the women’s level. Meanwhile, Nigerian-born talents William Osula (Newcastle United), Chido Obi-Martin (Manchester United), and Tochi Chukwuani (Sturm Graz) are provisionally tied to Denmark, further highlighting the Scandinavian nation’s success in scouting dual-nationality players.

For Nigeria, Dorgu’s cap-tie marks another setback in their efforts to recruit top diaspora talents, with Denmark’s strategic approach yielding consistent results.