Super Eagles newcomer Abdullahi Bewene in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa has described his first experience with the Nigerian national team as a dream come true, saying it is one of the proudest moments of his young career.
Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, Bewene admitted that spending time with the national team exceeded all his expectations.
“I am very excited to have been in camp with these great players, spending time with them and learning from them,” he said. “When you see someone like Alex Iwobi, who has over 100 caps for Nigeria, and he treats you as one of the lads, it only encourages you to do better.”
“Others like Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Moses Simon are wonderful leaders in the team. I appreciate their kind words and encouragement throughout my time in camp.”
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Reflecting on his debut against Poland, Bewene expressed satisfaction with his performance while acknowledging there is still room for improvement:
“My debut against Poland was okay. I think I did well, even though there are a few things I can improve on. I am always working to improve myself, both on and off the pitch, so that I can continue to earn invitations to represent my country.”
The defender revealed that wearing the famous green and white jersey had always been one of his biggest ambitions:
“It has always been my dream to play for Nigeria. To be honest, I knew the opportunity would come if I kept working hard, but I did not expect it to come this soon. However, I am here now and I am grateful to the coach and all the backroom staff for believing in me. I hope I continue to get opportunities like this to help my country. It is truly a dream come true for me.”
The defender received a late call-up for Nigeria’s international friendlies against Poland and Portugal following a series of withdrawals from the squad after the Super Eagles’ Unity Cup triumph.
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Bewene was handed his debut against Poland in Warsaw and made an immediate impression, starting the match as Nigeria battled to a 2-2 draw. The 21-year-old produced a composed performance on his first appearance for the national team, earning praise from Nigerian fans and sections of the local media.
He was then introduced late in Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Wednesday night, gaining further valuable experience against a star-studded Portuguese side featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and João Félix.
