By Samuel Ahmadu
Nigeria midfielder Israel Ayuma is set to receive his first call-up to the Super Eagles following his impressive performances at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ayuma, who plays for NK Istra in Croatia, delivered commanding displays in midfield throughout the tournament, catching the attention of Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, who was present in Egypt to monitor emerging talents.
According to reliable sources within the team, Chelle was particularly impressed with Ayuma’s composure, passing range, and shooting ability—key attributes that marked him out as one of Nigeria’s standout performers at the tournament.
“Flying Eagles players gave their best in this tournament. Eric Chelle was in attendance and closely observed the squad. One player who stood out for him was Israel Ayuma,” a senior team official disclosed.
“He had a very strong tournament. Chelle is convinced of his quality and sees him as a potential addition to the Super Eagles. It would be a delight to see him, and possibly one or two others, get their chance soon.”
The Flying Eagles capped their campaign with a bronze medal, defeating host nation Egypt 4-1 on penalties in the third-place match held in Cairo.
Ayuma’s anticipated invitation aligns with the national team’s broader vision of integrating emerging talents into the senior squad ahead of future international fixtures.
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.
