Tochukwu Nnadi embraces surprise Nigeria call as AFCON dream begins

Tochukwu Nnadi has admitted he did not anticipate being named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as the 19-year-old prepares for his first major international tournament with the Super Eagles.

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has included the Belgium-based midfielder in his plans as the country looks to rebound from the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

With the Africa Cup of Nations offering a fresh opportunity to restore confidence and ambition, Chelle has opted to blend experience with youth, handing Nnadi an unexpected but significant chance on the continental stage.

For the teenager, the call-up represents a rapid rise.

Still early in his professional career, Nnadi has been developing steadily in Europe, attracting attention for his maturity in midfield and his ability to combine discipline with creativity.

His selection reflects Nigeria’s broader desire to inject new energy into a squad seeking to reconnect with the heights last reached during the 2013 title-winning campaign.

Nnadi’s journey has been anything but conventional.

After leaving Campos FC Oweri in 2019, he moved to Dubai, where he continued his development at the Madenat Alamal Football Academy.

The experience proved decisive. Two years later, his performances during a trial impressed European scouts, opening the door to a move to Bulgaria with Botev Plovdiv.

There, he featured regularly, playing 29 matches across competitions and doing enough to secure a three-year contract that underlined the club’s confidence in his potential.

His progress did not go unnoticed. In 2024, Belgian side SV Zulte Waregem moved to sign him, offering a new platform in a competitive environment and accelerating his exposure at a higher level.

Those performances have now earned him recognition at international level, even sooner than he imagined.

When I learned of my selection, it was a huge joy for my family and me. A dream come true. When I was younger, I used to think about the day I would be called up to the Super Eagles. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I am happy to be part of the group, Nnadi said, capturing the emotion of a moment that has transformed his season.

On the pitch, Nnadi is valued for his balance in midfield. Comfortable in possession, he contributes to ball circulation while also helping to shield the defence, qualities that have drawn admiration from coaches and teammates alike.

His profile offers flexibility, and his style has been compared to that of more established figures within the squad, giving Chelle additional tactical options as he shapes his team for the tournament.

Nigeria enter the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations determined to turn a difficult recent chapter into a statement of renewal.

For Nnadi, the challenge is simpler but no less significant, to absorb the experience, learn from senior players and seize the opportunity to establish himself within the national setup.

At just 19, his future remains unwritten.

What is already clear, however, is that the young midfielder has taken a major step onto the international stage, carrying both personal pride and the hopes of a nation eager to believe again.