Super Eagles invitee Anthony Nwakaeme has exclusively told www.busybuddiesng.com that he is ’really happy’ to get his first call up to the Senior National Team and added that he is not in competition with other strikers in the Nigerian side to face Cameroon in a double-header 2018 World Cup qualifier.
The Hapoel Beer Sheva goal poacher is among 24 players called up to the Eagles set up for the crucial fixtures on 1 September in Uyo and three days later in Yaounde, after his impressive form with the Israeli Champions.
“I am very happy right now; like I don’t even have words to described it,” he said about his invitation to the Eagles.
“I just want to say thank you to God, thank you to the coach and thank you to everybody-the Journalists, the people of Nigeria that made this possible for me. I’m really happy to be here; I’m really, really happy for real.
“So right now, I’m just here with the team and everybody is getting ready for the games (against Cameroon). We will see what will happen. We are just waiting for the games to come.”
With the return of China-based forward Odion Ighalo and CSKA Moscow striker Aaron Samuel to the team, Nwakaeme who was voted the best player in the Israeli Premier League last season will have to contend for a starting shirt against the Indomitable Lions in an Eagles forward line that that also includes Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Moses, and Moses Simon.
However, the 28-year old says there’s really no competition in the team as his goal is to help the team get better.
“From outside, the people see it as competition but for me, it is not competition because, at the end of the day, the coach will decide (who plays),” Nwakaeme said.
“When the coach decides, if you have your time, you’ll do what you can do and other players will do what they can do.
“So for me, I don’t really see it as a competition. Whoever is playing in my position, I wish them all the best; I support them because, at the end of the day, we are all helping the nation to be great.
“So I wish everybody all the best and there’s no competition. For me, I’m just here to do my thing just as every other player.”
