Super Eagles star, Bright Osayi-Samuel, has revealed what he told Arsenal midfielder, Eberechi Eze about Nigeria during the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Osayi-Samuel, who was important in Nigeria’s Nations Cup campaign as the Super Eagles won a bronze medal, said that Eze contacted him to ask about life in the Eagles’ camp.
The Birmingham City defender said the conversation was meaningful, pointing out that Eze’s interest in the team’s atmosphere showed he really wanted to understand the Nigerian team.
“Sure, even Eze, one of my close friends who played with me since we were young,” he told OmaSportsTV, adding: “we had a phone call, and the question he asked was something like, “How is the camp?”
“The fact that he asked me that out of the blues really showed that he’s interested in seeing what’s going on [in Nigeria].
“You can see everywhere on social media how the atmosphere is and how everyone is really into football.”
Eze, who was previously considered by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, eventually chose to commit his international future to England, even though Nigerian football officials worked hard to get him.
The attacking midfielder was nearly going to play for the Super Eagles and had a meeting with the former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, before deciding where to go in the end.
Osayi-Samuel agreed with Eze’s choice to play for England, but he also said that if he had the chance to give advice again, he would still tell the Arsenal player to pick the Super Eagles.
“Of course, he picked England, but if it were a different life, I would tell him again, exactly the same thing now—Nigeria comes first.”
Eberechi Eze has played 16 times for the England national team and scored three goals.