Newly invited Super Eagles forward Olakunle Olusegun has shared his thoughts on receiving a national team call-up, describing it as a huge opportunity and affirming his determination to make the most of it.
Olusegun, who plays for Russian club Krasnodar, was originally left out of Eric Chelle’s squad for the Unity Cup and the upcoming friendly against Russia. However, injuries forced the Head Coach to adjust his selection, leading to the inclusion of the 23-year-old forward in the team’s attack.
Olusegun described his call-up as a dream come true for any player, adding that he’s prepared to showcase his abilities and prove he’s worthy of representing the Super Eagles.
“All players want is to play for the National team so finding myself now in the Super Eagles, it’s a privilege and it’s an honour for me because it’s not by my power or how I play.”
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“I believe I can do better, I can show myself and show the quality I have, and prove to everybody that I’m ready to play for the Super Eagles.”
“When I received the message I was thinking it was too early for me but my family told me no. You just have to go there and do your job as usual, as a professional that you are.”
Olusegun’s journey to the top has been a remarkable one. He captained ABS Ilorin FC during the 2017 NPFL U-15 Promises tournament before progressing to represent the Golden Eaglets, where he played a key role in their qualification for both the U-17 Nations Cup and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He described his journey as one that began as a “child’s game” but grew more serious as he encountered tougher challenges and tournaments. He also recounted attending the U-17 trials, where he seized the opportunity to impress and ultimately earn a spot in the Golden Eaglets squad.
“When I played for the U-15 back then in 2017, it was like a child’s game, it was nothing serious then. But when I went for the U-17 trial in 2019, going to a trial where about thousands of players are invited to the camp, that was very hard and intense.”
“I was able to show myself and what I can do. We were able to qualify for the Nations Cup where I won the highest goalscorer award. We took the ticket to the World Cup in Brazil 2019. I was there also but we were knocked out at the Round of 16.”
Olusegun revealed that his move to Danish club Fremad Amager in 2020 played a key role in his development, helping him grow and improve as a player before he joined his present club, Krasnodar.
“Every player in the local side wants to play at the top level so going to Denmark and making my debut there was a big privilege and a great opportunity for me.”
“It was good playing in Denmark because I played over 24 games and I had 18 goals with six assists, so it was a great season for me back then.”
Since joining Krasnodar’s senior squad, Olusegun has made 100 appearances, netting 12 goals and contributing eight assists. He also played a crucial part in helping the club clinch their first-ever Russian Premier League title in the recently concluded season.
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