Marseille midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi has revealed that his biggest ambition in football was to represent Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup.
The young midfielder said his focus was initially on the global tournament before he eventually received a call-up to the Super Eagles senior team.
Missed World Cup Opportunity
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America were ended after a penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoff final.
The result meant the Super Eagles missed out on the global tournament, which Nnadi had long dreamed of playing in.
Surprise AFCON Selection
Nnadi said his invitation to the Nigeria squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations came as a surprise.
He made his senior debut during the tournament’s group stage match against Uganda.
Emotional Call-Up Moment
The midfielder recalled receiving his first national team invitation while speaking on the phone with his father.
He described the moment as emotional, noting that it marked a major step in his career.
Focus on Future Goals
Despite missing out on his initial World Cup dream, Nnadi said he remains motivated to achieve more with the national team.
He expressed pride in representing Nigeria at AFCON and hopes to continue building his international career.
Strong Performances for Nigeria
Nnadi featured prominently for the Super Eagles during the international window, starting all matches against Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Poland, and Portugal.
His performances have increased his international caps to five, strengthening his role in the national team setup.
Early Career Development
The midfielder previously featured for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup, where he gained valuable international experience at youth level.