National Teams
Adamu Aliyu shines in Latvia, dreams of Super Eagles call-up after Ventspils heroics
By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigerian winger Adamu Aliyu is beginning to make his mark in Europe after a bright start to life with JFK Ventspils in Latvia’s second-tier Nakotnes Liga.
The 23-year-old, who joined the club during the recent transfer window, delivered a standout performance in only his second outing — inspiring Ventspils to a 4-1 win with an assist and a won penalty that helped seal the three points.
Aliyu admitted his debut had been far from smooth, coming on when his team was already trailing and later reduced to ten men, but he believes the response in the following game stressed his team’s resilience.
“My debut match wasn’t ideal, as we were already trailing when I came on, and we conceded a red card shortly after my introduction,” the former Kwara United forward said.
“However, we’ve moved on, and today’s win is a testament to our team’s resilience.”
The winger’s direct style and work rate have already endeared him to Ventspils’ fans, and he has quickly set his sights on greater ambitions.
“Every player’s dream is to represent their country, and mine is no different,” Aliyu explained.
“I want to continue to work hard and hope that someday I’ll receive an invitation to join the Super Eagles of Nigeria.”
For now, Aliyu remains focused on pushing Ventspils towards promotion while continuing to improve his own output in goals and assists. He also took time to appreciate the support he has received from home and abroad.
“Thank you to all my fans and supporters in and outside Nigeria,” he said.
“I’ll continue to work hard to make you proud.”
With his determination and early impact in Latvia, Aliyu could soon find himself not only central to Ventspils’ promotion push but also knocking on the door of Nigeria’s national team selectors.
