LIVERPOOL youngster Rio Ngumoha has stirred excitement among Nigerian football fans after he was pictured wearing Nigeria’s iconic 1996 football jersey.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that photo, posted on the X handle of ESPN Africa, showed the exciting teenager beaming with excitement while putting on the famous green-and-white jersey associated with Nigeria’s historic Olympic football triumph.
The jersey was worn by Nigeria’s U-23 side, popularly known as the “Dream Team,” when they won gold in the football event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the United States.
Coached by Dutch tactician Johannes Bonfrere, the Dream Team defeated football powerhouses such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina on their way to becoming the first African country to win Olympic football gold.
Ngumoha’s latest appearance in the famous jersey is expected to further fuel conversations among Nigerians eager to see the talented youngster eventually represent the Super Eagles at senior international level.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season, featuring 17 times in the Premier League while scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Born in England, Ngumoha is of Nigerian and Guadeloupean descent and holds both Nigerian and French nationalities through his parents.
The highly-rated teenager has already represented England at youth level, making his England U-15 and U-16 debuts in 2023.
In October 2024, he featured for England’s U-17 team and later earned a call-up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
On September 3, 2025, Ngumoha made his England U-19 debut during a 2-0 victory over Ukraine at the Pinatar Arena.
Ngumoha began his football journey at the Chelsea FC academy at the age of eight and was among the scorers in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves in the U-17 Premier League Cup final in April 2024.
He later joined Liverpool FC in the summer of 2024 and quickly impressed enough to earn opportunities to train with the club’s first-team squad under manager Arne Slot.
The teenager was named among the substitutes for Liverpool’s EFL Cup clash against Southampton on December 18, 2024.
On August 25, Ngumoha made his Premier League debut as a stoppage-time substitute for Cody Gakpo and scored in the 10th minute of added time to secure a dramatic 3-2 away victory over Newcastle United FC.
The goal made him Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer in club history and also surpassed Darwin Núñez’s late winner against Nottingham Forest in March 2024 to become the club’s latest game-winning goal in Premier League history.
A month later, on September 17, Ngumoha made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid at just 17 years and 19 days old.
The appearance saw him become the youngest Liverpool player ever to feature in the competition, breaking the previous record held by Trey Nyoni.
Just days later, on September 25, he signed his first professional contract with Liverpool.
On April 11, 2026, Ngumoha scored his first goal at Anfield during a 2-0 victory over Fulham FC, becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat at 17 years and 225 days old, surpassing the previous record set by Raheem Sterling.