By Wale Mustapha
Newly invited Super Eagles midfielder, Papa Daniel, has shared his excitement and gratitude after receiving the call-up to represent Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Coach Eric Chelle recently unveiled his 23-man squad for the vital World Cup qualifiers, and Daniel’s inclusion came as one of the more surprising announcements.
The Super Eagles will face the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on March 21, followed by a match against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later.
Taking to social media to express his appreciation, Daniel thanked his teammates, coaches, and fans for their support and promised to make them proud while representing the national team.
“Honored to receive a @NGSuperEagles invitation to represent this beautiful nation at the qualifiers for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup with the senior team,” Daniel wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
He also conveyed his gratitude to those who have sent supportive messages: “Thankful to my teammates and coaches and grateful for the good messages I’m still getting. God Bless Nigeria.”
Previously part of the Super Eagles B team that qualified for the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) later this year, Daniel’s stellar form has now earned him a well-deserved call-up to the senior team, as they aim to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
