National Teams
Victor Boniface congratulates Igoh Ogbu and Tolu Arokodare on first Super Eagles call-ups

By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria striker Victor Boniface has congratulated Igoh Ogbu and Tolu Arokodare on earning their first-ever call-ups to the country’s national team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Ogbu, a standout defender for Slavia Prague in the Czech First League, and Arokodare, a prolific striker for Genk in the Belgian Pro League, have both been included in coach Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad for the crucial qualifiers.
Boniface, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, shared his excitement on social media, congratulating his new teammates on their achievement and recognizing the journey that led them to this significant moment in their careers.
“It’s great to see you both get rewarded for your hard work and determination,” Boniface wrote.
Ogbu’s path to the Super Eagles has included stints with Gombe United, Rosenborg, Levanger, Sogndal, and Lillestrøm before his move to Slavia Prague in 2023.
Arokodare, who started his career in Nigeria, had moves to Valmiera in Latvia, loan spells at 1. FC Köln and Amiens, before joining Genk. He was also part of Nigeria’s U17 team that participated in the 2017 Gauteng Future Champions tournament.
Boniface, along with fellow first-time call-ups Kayode Bankole and Papa Daniel, is excited to welcome Ogbu and Arokodare into the Super Eagles fold ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The team will face Rwanda on March 21st in Kigali, before returning home to face Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on March 25th.