Hamdi Akujobi Begs Super Eagles Coach for Chance to Play for Nigeria
Almere City defender Hamdi Akujobi has made a heartfelt appeal to Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, asking for a chance to prove himself in Nigeria’s national team.
Born in Rotterdam to Nigerian parents, the 25-year-old says he has always dreamed of wearing Nigeria’s green and white jersey. Though eligible to play for either the Netherlands or Nigeria, Akujobi says his heart is with the Super Eagles.
Akujobi was included in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup but did not make the final team. Since then, he has continued to develop his game in the Netherlands.
He started out at Feyenoord’s youth academy, made his senior debut at Heerenveen, and moved to Almere City in 2022 when they were still in the second division. Akujobi helped the club win promotion to the top tier, scoring five goals in 34 games and earning a place in the Eerste Divisie Team of the Year.
In the Eredivisie, he has continued to impress. Last season, he played 23 matches as Almere finished 13th and avoided relegation. This season, he has already featured in 28 games and scored his first top-flight goal in a 2-2 draw with NEC Nijmegen in February.
Even though Almere City are currently bottom of the league, Akujobi’s performances have remained strong. Now, he hopes his consistency will earn him a long-awaited call-up to the national team.
Speaking in an interview with EaglesTracker, Akujobi said:
“Yes, I do dream of playing for the Super Eagles. I believe I’m ready now.
“Three years ago, maybe not. But now I’ve played regularly for the past three seasons. I’ve shown what I can do.
“I’m playing at the top level in the Netherlands — not just sitting on the bench. I believe I can bring something different to the national team.”
Akujobi plays mainly as a right-back — a position where Nigeria already has strong options, including Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Bright Osayi-Samuel of Fenerbahçe. But he is also capable of playing in central midfield, centre-back, and as a wing-back.
He believes the competition will only make him better:
“I enjoy the challenge. Competing with players like Aina and Osayi-Samuel would push me to improve. I have the passion and I know what I can offer.”
Asked if he had a message for coach Chelle, Akujobi said:
“It’s hard because I’m not a man of many words. I prefer to show what I can do. But I love football. I’m ready to give everything — my body, my heart — to play for Nigeria and wear the badge with pride.”
Coach Eric Chelle, who took charge in January, is expected to try out new players during the upcoming Unity Cup in May. Nigeria will face Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago in the friendly tournament, starting with a match against Ghana on May 27 at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.
Chelle has already tested Aina and Osayi-Samuel in recent World Cup qualifiers. Now, with Akujobi and Empoli’s Tyronne Ebuehi — recently back from injury — also available, Chelle may have more decisions to make.
After the Unity Cup, Nigeria will play another friendly against Russia on 5 June.
