Orlando City's Daryl Dike open to US and Nigeria national teams, focused on club form

USA or Nigeria? Dike says he's undecided on national team

Daryl Dike - tongue out - celebration

Daryl Dike added yet another goal to his impressive rookie season tally early in Orlando City's match against Nashville SC on Decision Day presented by AT&T. 


With a goal in each of his last four appearances, the push for the 20-year-old Dike to get a call from US national team manager Gregg Berhalter will only increase.


But the former University of Virginia star is also eligible for Nigeria, and hasn't yet decided to whom he would give his international allegiance, he told ESPN's Taylor Twellman on an episode of "Banter" released earlier Sunday.


Older brother Bright Dike represented Nigeria — the home country of both his parents — despite his own foray in MLS and also being born in the U.S. Nigerian born cousin Emmanuel Eminike has also suited up for the Super Eagles.

"When you’re younger, you’re always sitting there, thinking about international, and I know I’ve had my siblings play for Nigeria," Dike told Twellman in the an interview which begins above at around the 20-minute mark. "And I know I have the opportunity for Nigeria or the USA if I get the chance. But right now I just kind of play my game. I focus on what I’m doing with Orlando City, and if either/or comes, that decision will come when it comes."


Dike is aiming high, though. Asked by Twellman whom he tried to model his game after, he responded with the name of one of the world's most famous strikers, Inter Milan and Belgium star Romelu Lukaku.


"I’ll be boring and say Lukaku, just because I think him and I are pretty similar," Dike said. "So yeah, I watch him a lot and sometimes I try to pick up on things that he does, or movements that he does and how he uses his body. So yeah, probably Lukaku."