Super Eagles defender Abdullahi Bewene says he is excited about returning to Nigeria and experiencing the feeling of playing in front of the home fans for the first time.
The 21-year-old’s invitation for Nigeria’s two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Tanzania marks his first opportunity to feature for the Super Eagles on home soil, as well as his first competitive appearance for the national team.
Bewene made his international debut earlier this year against Poland and has since featured in friendly matches against Portugal and Russia, with all three appearances coming outside Nigeria.
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However, the upcoming double-header against Tanzania will present a different experience for the young defender, who is eagerly looking forward to connecting with Nigerian supporters at the stadium.
“I cannot wait to come out of the tunnel for the game and see the fans. It is good to be back home and playing in front of our fans, so it is a good feeling,” Bewene exclusively told Footy-Africa. “This is my first invitation where I will be playing in Nigeria for the Super Eagles. All the three times I have played have been abroad.”
“There was Portugal, Poland and Russia, and this is my first official competitive match for Nigeria. We are in a serious situation where we need to win our games henceforth, and that is the mindset that all of us have in camp.”
“Every player is thinking of just one thing: victory over Tanzania in the two games. We are going to do our best to make sure that we make Nigerians proud. If the coach picks me to play, I will put in my best, like I always do at both club and country level. I am excited to be back home to play for Nigeria,” he added.
The Super Eagles will host Tanzania, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday, November 13, before travelling for the return fixture against the Taifa Stars at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.
Nigeria, currently second in the group, need maximum points from both encounters to strengthen their chances of securing the group’s sole qualification ticket for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
