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UDS Huesca of Spain midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali has disclosed that he is determined to make the best of his late inclusion in the Super Eagles’ roster to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
While going philosophical about his advent into the squad, despite not playing any match in the qualifiers and only two grade-B senior games to his name, the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning captain and most valuable player admitted how happy he was when he got the call-up.
Megasportsarena.com reports further that Nwakali also enthused that he is eager to make his time count, now that it has come in an unexpected manner, hence the zeal with which he has faced every training session since joining the squad in Abuja.
Now that they are at the AFCON 2021 venue and looking forward to Tuesday’s first Group D game against Egypt, the product of Diamond Football Academy of Umuahia added that he is hoping to make the starting 11 as well.
The youngster, whose previous games for the Eagles were exhibition matches versus Atlético Madrid of Spain and Lone Star of Liberia in 2018, went on to reveal morale-boosting support he has received from some ex-internationals, like Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amuneke and Victor Obinna Nsofor.
Having perfected playing different roles in midfield during his days with the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and Olympic Eagles, Nwakali believes he can fit into a versatile role with the senior squad, even as he thanked everyone that believed in him before his invitation finally came.
Nwakali told NFF TV: “Every Nigerian player wants to play for the Super Eagles, wants to represent Nigeria at a higher level but I’m one person that believes in time.
“When the time comes, whatever it is that is yours will come like I never played in the qualifiers and then my named was mentioned in the 28-man final list of players representing Nigeria.
“My message to the fans is that I’m going to represent Nigeria if the opportunity comes up to play, I will give my best in every game that I’m called upon to play.
“I will always make sure I represent Nigeria very well and then for all the people that have stood by me, encouraging me saying that you are not there yet in the Super Eagles but you just need to keep working until the time comes.
“I remember I spoke to some ex-Super Eagles players I am in contact with, sometimes I speak to Kanu, I speak to Obinna Nsofor, Emmanuel Amuneke who is my coach.
“They said I’m not there but I’m going to be there if I keep working hard, if I keep believing in myself and that’s what happened. I was just patient, waiting for the time and working.”
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