Slavia Prague midfielder Suleiman Mubarak happy after maiden Nigeria call-up

Slavia Prague midfielder Suleiman Mubarak has expressed his excitement after receiving his maiden call-up to the Nigeria senior national team, admitting that the warm reception from his teammates has exceeded his expectations.

The youngster is part of the Super Eagles squad for the current international assignment and has been impressed by the atmosphere within the camp since joining the team.

Mubarak revealed that he initially expected some of the established players to be difficult to approach because of their status and achievements in the game. However, he was pleasantly surprised by the friendly attitude of the senior players, who made him feel comfortable from the moment he arrived.

“I’m happy to be here, and since I came to come, everybody has been friendly, which was not what I expected because I thought some of them would give attitude because they are big players,” he said.

The midfielder also admitted that although he believed his performances would eventually earn him an opportunity with the national team, he never anticipated making his first appearance in the senior setup so soon.

Mubarak explained that he had remained focused on delivering consistent performances at club level while waiting for an opportunity to represent his country.

“I believe my form was okay, and an opportunity would come, but I didn’t think the opportunity would come with the senior team. So, when I got the call-up, I was so happy,” he added.

Reflecting on his first training session with the Super Eagles, the Slavia Prague midfielder said the experience had already provided valuable lessons, particularly from observing the behaviour and professionalism of the established internationals.

He highlighted their composure, mutual understanding and positive relationship within the squad as some of the qualities that impressed him most.

Despite being a newcomer, Mubarak is determined to make the most of his opportunity and convince the technical team that he deserves a place in future national team selections.

The midfielder is hoping to translate the experience gained during his first international camp into a strong performance whenever he gets the opportunity to feature.

For the youngster, the maiden invitation represents an important milestone in his career, and he will be eager to turn the opportunity into a lasting presence in the Nigerian national team.