Chrisantus Uche has received his first call-up to the Nigerian national team, with the Getafe forward named in the Super Eagles squad for their upcoming training camp in June.
The 21-year-old striker, who has enjoyed a breakout season in La Liga, is among the fresh faces selected by head coach Eric Chelle as part of a wider push to rejuvenate the national side.
Uche, a former attacking midfielder who has been converted into a false nine, registered three goals across 30 appearances for Getafe during the 2024–25 campaign.
His work rate, positional intelligence, and rise from Spain’s lower divisions have caught the attention of Nigeria’s technical team.
Uche’s inclusion in the squad represents a major milestone in a career that has developed rapidly over the past year.
Once a relatively unknown figure in Spanish football, his performances have drawn increasing attention, leading to his first invitation to don the national colours.
Coaching staff are reportedly impressed by his versatility and potential, viewing him as a long-term asset in Nigeria’s evolving attacking setup.
The Super Eagles’ decision to bring in Uche is part of a broader strategy aimed at injecting new energy into the squad.
A number of players from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) have also been called up, as the coaching staff looks to diversify the player pool and integrate younger talent.
The June camp will serve as a proving ground for several of these emerging prospects.
In the weeks ahead, Nigeria will take part in a series of international friendlies, including a mini-tournament in London.
There, they are scheduled to face familiar African rivals Ghana, alongside Caribbean opponents Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
These matches will offer coach Chelle a chance to assess the readiness of his squad and experiment with tactical adjustments in a low-stakes setting.
Perhaps the most notable fixture on the calendar, however, is a historic encounter set for early June in Moscow, where Nigeria will meet Russia for the first time at the senior level.
The match is expected to draw significant attention, not only due to its novelty but also for its broader symbolic and diplomatic implications.
For players like Uche, it presents an opportunity to make a mark on an international stage.
As Nigeria prepares for these contests, the focus remains on building depth and planning for the future. With the next round of competitive qualifiers on the horizon and long-term ambitions of World Cup and continental success, the integration of new faces like Uche marks a calculated investment in the next generation of Super Eagles.
Whether or not Uche features prominently in the upcoming matches, his inclusion signals a new chapter both for the player and for a national team keen to reinvent itself.
For now, all eyes will be on his performance in camp as he begins his journey with the green and white.
