Al Ain goalkeeper Hassan Sani, 20, was reportedly left in tears after learning that representing Nigeria could jeopardise his citizenship status in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and potentially put his club career at risk.

The young shot-stopper, who holds UAE citizenship and reportedly enjoys local-player status at Al Ain, is said to have faced a difficult choice between pursuing his international ambitions with Nigeria and protecting his professional future in the Gulf country.

According to reports, Sani received an invitation to represent Nigeria at the under-23 level but was unable to accept it because of concerns surrounding the consequences of playing for another country under UAE regulations.

The situation reportedly became even more painful because of his long-standing ambition to wear Nigeria’s national colours. His representative claimed that the goalkeeper was devastated after being informed of the potential risks associated with accepting the invitation.

“He was in tears when he was told he can’t play for Nigeria else he will lose his spot at the club and also his career. His dream has always been to play for Nigeria,” his representative was quoted as saying.

Sani’s reported predicament highlights the complex challenges that can confront footballers who hold citizenship in countries with strict nationality regulations, particularly when their eligibility to represent another nation could affect their employment prospects.

For the young goalkeeper, the decision is reportedly about more than international football. Losing his local-player status at Al Ain could have significant implications for his standing at the club and his future in UAE football.

However, the specific legal implications of representing Nigeria, including whether doing so would automatically affect his UAE citizenship or club eligibility, have not been independently verified.

Neither the UAE authorities nor Al Ain have been cited as having publicly confirmed the circumstances surrounding the reported decision.

For now, Sani’s reported experience represents a painful setback for a goalkeeper whose dream of representing Nigeria has collided with concerns over his professional future.