Pisa midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has called his Nigerian national team call-up “long-awaited” and admitted he was shocked to receive the news, SportPremi reports.
The youngster earned a first-ever senior invitation with his inclusion in Nigeria’s 28-man contingent for the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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The versatile midfielder was first called up during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but did not join up with the team after withdrawing due to injury.
Nigeria advanced beyond the group stages of the competition, but fell at the last hurdle when they were beaten on penalties by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final.
Everything Akinsanmiro said after Super Eagles Call-Up
The young midfielder has joined the few players in the camp and could be in line for his debut when Nigeria face Egypt in a pre-tournament friendly match on Tuesday.
Speaking in an interview, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro opened up on what it meant to represent the Nigerian national team, while he also named the legends that have impacted his career.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be honest. Because I was first call-up during the qualifier for the World Cup, I was called up then I got injured. So, when they call me up, when I saw the invitation, to be honest, I call someone who is closer to me and I started crying because it has been a dream for so long”, the 21-year-old revealed.
“I have been trying to play for the national team for so long, since the U17, U20, and I think like then maybe I am not good enough. I just felt like maybe when I keep on pushing and give my possible best, maybe one day, I will be called up to the national team.
“I don’t really watch football like that because where I grow up, you have to pay before you can watch games” he said. So, we were not allowed when I was young to – so we didn’t have time to watch games. I love to play football but I didn’t watch football but when I was like growing up, making it serious that I want to become a football”, Akinsanmiro added.
On His Football Idols and What Inspires Him
“I will do watching on YouTube, which is like Mikel Obi, and I like the way he plays like from the U20 World Cup, and I also love Okocha, and I only watch these people on YouTube, their highlights to be honest and I love them”, the Pisa midfielder continued.
“What inspire me are the people around me, like my dad, my brothers, both of them they played football when they were young and my dad also plays football. I choose to play but there was a time when I was like football is not like something like 100% you will make it, so I have to like learn a work.”
Nigeria begin their campaign against Tanzania when the tournament kicks off in Morocco, before additional group matches against Tunisia and Uganda.
