Freshly minted Super Eagles invitee Isaac James has set his sights on competing at the Africa Cup of Nations after receiving his maiden call-up to the Nigerian senior squad.
The 22-year-old Alverca defender caught the attention of manager Eric Chelle on the back of an impressive run in Portugal, where he has contributed two assists in seven outings this term. James confessed that the summons came as a pleasant shock, and he is eager to earn his inaugural cap for his homeland.
Reflecting on the milestone in a conversation with Footy-Africa, the youngster shared both his astonishment and joy, noting that donning the national colors has been a lifelong aspiration.
The versatile backliner also highlighted his commitment to the collective effort, maintaining that personal playing time takes a backseat to squad success. According to James, the primary objective uniting every player—whether featuring in the starting lineup or waiting on the bench—is delivering results for the nation.
With Nigeria preparing to take on Guinea-Bissau in a 2027 AFCON qualifying encounter, James expects a demanding clash and insisted the team must battle relentlessly to claim all three points.
He noted that representing Nigeria on the continental stage, reaching the FIFA World Cup, and competing in the Champions League represent the pinnacle of his sporting ambitions, viewing the upcoming qualifier as a crucial step toward turning those dreams into reality.