Newly invited Genk defender Christian Akpan has arrived at the Super Eagles camp ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly against Portugal.
The 21-year-old earned a surprise call-up from head coach Eric Chelle following an impressive breakthrough performance for Belgian side Genk, where he marked his first-team debut with a Man-of-the-Match display.
Akpan was drafted into the squad after a number of invited players withdrew from the team, while others were unable to secure visas in time for Nigeria’s recent friendly against Poland in Warsaw, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The versatile defender, who is capable of operating on either flank as a left-back or right-back, is expected to provide additional options for Chelle as the Super Eagles continue preparations for their next test.
His arrival increases competition within the squad, particularly in the full-back positions, where fellow newcomer Abdullahi Bewene impressed during his outing against Poland.
Akpan will now be aiming to make his senior international debut when Nigeria take on Portugal on June 10, as Chelle continues to assess new faces and build squad depth ahead of future competitive assignments.
The friendly against Portugal offers another opportunity for emerging players to stake their claim for a regular place in the national team setup, with Akpan among those hoping to seize the moment on the international stage.
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.
