The 22-year-old, who is eligible to represent both countries, has yet to earn a senior international cap for France despite featuring for the country's youth teams. That leaves the door open for him to make the switch under FIFA's eligibility regulations.
Born in France to Nigerian parents, Ugochukwu has long been regarded as one of the talented midfielders with dual-nationality options. However, with no senior invitation from Les Bleus since becoming eligible, the midfielder is now believed to be focusing on representing Nigeria on the international stage.
According to Soccernet, Ugochukwu spent part of his summer holiday in Nigeria, where he was seen playing football with Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho in Owerri. The visit has further fueled speculation that the midfielder is serious about wearing the green and white jersey.
The report also claims that Ugochukwu has begun the process of obtaining a Nigerian passport, a key administrative step toward completing his international switch.
If the process is finalized and he receives approval from FIFA, Ugochukwu would become eligible for selection by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, providing Nigeria with another midfield option as preparations continue for upcoming international competitions.
While neither the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) nor the player has officially confirmed the nationality switch, recent developments suggest that the former Chelsea midfielder could soon join the growing list of dual-nationality players choosing to represent Nigeria at senior international level.