Bruno Onyemaechi is set to miss the Super Eagles’ upcoming international friendly against the Jordan national football team after welcoming his first child with partner Ines Fontes.
The defender confirmed the news over the weekend, sharing photos from the hospital and describing the birth as the “best gift ever.” His absence from training sessions following Nigeria’s 2–1 victory over the Iran national football team had initially sparked speculation.
Onyemaechi, 26, has been in a relationship with Fontes since 2022, with the couple announcing their pregnancy earlier this year. Fontes had also been a regular presence supporting the player during his time at Boavista FC.
The full-back temporarily stepped away from national team duties to be present for the birth, a decision in line with common practice among professional footballers.
His absence presents a selection dilemma for head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the clash, with sources indicating he is unlikely to return in time due to the short turnaround.
In his absence, Zaidu Sanusi is expected to step in at left-back, bringing experience and attacking threat, albeit with a different playing style to Onyemaechi’s more defensive approach.
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.
