Sevilla striker Akor Adams has taken to social media to congratulate Igoh Ogbu after the Slavia Prague defender earned his first-ever call-up to Nigeria’s senior national team.
Initially named in the 39-man provisional squad, Ogbu made the final 23-man list for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The 25-year-old will now compete for a starting spot against established defenders like Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and AFCON 2023 standout William Troost-Ekong.
Adams and Ogbu share a history, having played together in Nigeria’s U20 squad at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.
They also reunited at Norwegian club Lillestrøm and are represented by the same Nigerian agent, Atta Aneke.
Ogbu’s call-up comes on the back of impressive performances for Slavia Prague in the Czech top flight, where he has made 19 league appearances and scored once.
He has also started seven matches in European competitions this season.
Under former coach José Peseiro, some Super Eagles fans had called for Ogbu’s inclusion in the squad, and his selection under new coach Eric Chelle signals a fresh opportunity.
After missing out on the final squad himself, Adams took to Instagram to celebrate his former teammate, writing, “First of many.”
Adams, who recently joined Sevilla, was also part of the provisional list but did not make the final cut.
With the squad now finalized, Nigeria will look to turn their World Cup qualifying campaign around when they face Rwanda on March 21 and Zimbabwe on March 25.
The Super Eagles currently sit fifth in Group C, having drawn three games and lost one to Benin Republic.
With just one automatic qualification spot available, anything less than maximum points in the upcoming matches could put Nigeria’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy, as they need to win all remaining six matches to stand a chance.
For now, all eyes are on the Super Eagles as they prepare for two crucial fixtures that could define their path to the 2026 World Cup.
